FIDE Grand Swiss: Turkish Teen Yagiz Khan Erdogmus Holds Gukesh, Vaishali In Joint Lead

Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh had to settle for a draw with Yagiz Khan Erdogmus of Turkey, while R Vaishali coasted to a win over Eline Roebers of the Netherlands in the second round of the FIDE Grand Swiss on Friday.

The 14-year-old Erdogmus shared the spoils with the Indian World Champion Gukesh as he squandered a position of advantage in a dramatic encounter.

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Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh’s compatriot, secured his first win in the event by defeating Ivan Zenlyanskiii, who is competing under the FIDE flag due to Russia’s ban.

In the open section of this $855,000 prize money event, Alireza Firouzja of France, Parham Maghsoodloo of Iran, and Anton Demchenko of Slovenia are tied for the lead with two points each.

Vaishali joined the leading group in the women’s section with consecutive victories, earning two points from two games, and now shares the top spot with Olga Bedelka of Austria.

Given her strong ratings, Vaishali is poised to take the sole lead in the event she won two years ago, showcasing the strength of Indian women’s chess.

This is the fourth edition of the Grand Swiss, with the top two players in both sections qualifying for the eight-player 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournaments, which determine the next world championship challengers.

The $625,000 Open section features 116 players, led by the Indian trio of GMs Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, and Gukesh.

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