Gukesh's Revenge Bid Falls Short: Viswanathan Anand Holds Firm in Thrilling Rook-Pawn Endgame

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In a closely contested Global Chess League (GCL) match, reigning world champion Viswanathan Anand showcased his experience and strategic prowess, holding 19-year-old D Gukesh to a draw on Sunday. Gukesh, who had previously lost to Anand in an earlier round, was looking to exact revenge. However, he was unable to capitalize on his advantage in the rook-pawn endgame, resulting in a draw that proved sufficient for the PBG Alaskan Knights to secure a crucial victory. The Alaskan Knights' win propelled them to third place in the league standings with 12 points. Meanwhile, defending champions Triveni Continental Kings maintained their lead at the top of the table with an 8-7 win over Fyers American Gambits. The Continental Kings now hold a six-point advantage over their closest rivals. In other matches, Mumba Masters suffered a setback in their bid to seal a final spot after losing to American Gambits in the reverse fixture. Despite this, they remain second in the league with 12 points. Vladislav Artemiev and Hikaru Nakamura emerged victorious on the icon board, while Richard Rapport's win over Shakhriyar Mamedyarov proved crucial for their team. The Mumba Masters' slip-up opened the door for other teams to close the gap. Ganges Grandmasters capitalized on this opportunity with a 10-9 win over Alpine SG Pipers, narrowing the gap with the leaders. However, they were unable to capitalize on a chance to move up to second spot in their final match of the day, which was against last-placed PBG Alaskan Knights. Despite this, Arjun Erigaisi's Player of the Match performance and Sara Khadem's win over Stavroula Tsolakidou proved decisive for the Grandmasters.