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Pranav Venkatesh beats Kazybek Nogerbek in a Wild Card match to earn his place at FIDE Grand Swiss 2025

by Shahid Ahmed - 07/08/2025

In a battle of two World Junior champions, the current champion, GM Pranav Venkatesh defeated the former champion, GM Kazybek Nogerbek (KAZ) 1.5-0.5. The match was for a Wild Card entry into the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025. Pranav did not qualify via rating, thus he had to play this match. The first game was a draw, Pranav won the second one, which resulted in him winning the match. A total of 18 Indians, 13 in Open and five in Women have qualified to FIDE Grand Swiss and Grand Swiss for Women event respectively. It will take place from 3rd to 15th September in Samarkand, Uzbekistan next month. Photo: Asian Chess Federation

Total 18 Indians have qualified, 13 in Open and 5 Women

The match took place at VIP lounge of the Hazza Bin Zayed Football Stadium in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates | Photo: Asian Chess Federation

Game 1: Kazybek - Pranav: 0.5-0.5

Game 1: GM Kazybek Nogerbek (KAZ) - GM Pranav Venkatesh: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: Asian Chess Federation

Game 2: Pranav - Kazybek: 1-0

Position after 47.b4

Kazybek went wrong first when he played 47...Kf6?? 48.Kc3+- Rf1 49.Re6+ Kf7 50.Kd4 Rf3?? and after a bit more back and forth play, Pranav won the game. Thus the match and earned himself a spot in the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025.

GM Pranav Venkatesh won the second game against GM Kazybek Nogerbek (KAZ) to win the match and secure his place in the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 | Photo: Asian Chess Federation

Indian players Qualified in the Open event

By Rating

1. GM Arjun Erigaisi (2782)

2. GM D Gukesh (2776)

3. GM R Praggnanandhaa (2767)

4. GM Vidit Gujrathi (2720)

5. GM Pentala Harikrishna (2707)

6. GM Nihal Sarin (2696)

7. GM Raunak Sadhwani (2672)

8. GM Karthikeyan Murali (2656)

9. GM Abhimanyu Puranik (2622)

10. GM Aryan Chopra (2620)

11. GM Leon Luke Mendonca (2603)

12. GM Narayanan S L (2600)

 

Continent spots

13. GM Pranav Venkatesh (2595)

Women

By Rating

1. GM Koneru Humpy (2546)

2. GM Harika Dronavlli (2483)

3. GM R Vaishali (2481)

4. GM Divya Deshmukh (2463)

5. IM Vantika Agrawal (2388)

Links

Source: Players list, Wild Card Match: Game 1 and Game 2

Complete players list: Open and Women



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