The second round of the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 delivered high drama and standout performances, especially from the Indian contingent.
World Champion D. Gukesh was held to a surprising draw by 14-year-old Turkish prodigy Yagiz Khan Erdogmus, despite having a winning position. The time-troubled encounter ended in a handshake, leaving spectators stunned by the teenager’s resilience.
Meanwhile, R. Praggnanandhaa bounced back from his opening-round draw with a convincing win over Ivan Zenlyanskiii, who is competing under the FIDE flag due to Russia’s ban. The victory marked Praggnanandhaa’s first in the tournament and reaffirmed his top-seed status.
In the Women’s section, defending champion R. Vaishali continued her dominant run, defeating Eline Roebers of the Netherlands to join Olga Bedelka of Austria at the top of the leaderboard with two wins from two games. With her strong rating and past success, Vaishali is poised to take the sole lead in the coming rounds.
The Grand Swiss, offering a total prize pool of $855,000, serves as a gateway to the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament, with the top two players from each section earning qualification.
