Round 9 brings us Liang Awonder taking on Vidit Gujrathi in what promises to be an intriguing battle.
In Round 8, Liang played a balanced, no-nonsense draw against Anish Giri, while Vidit’s game against Arjun Erigaisi was a different story altogether - a sparkling, tactical draw that kept spectators entertained.
Will Liang’s solid approach prevail, or will Vidit find a way to inject more of the fireworks we saw yesterday?
Vidit selects the Four Knights Defense, aiming for a classical and balanced setup
With his own knight under attack, Liang skips the retreat and instead plays an in-between move, attacking Vidit’s knight.
Vidit brings his bishop into play, instantly creating a dangerous checkmate threat!
Liang opts to exchange queens, steering the game toward a simplified position.
The endgame remains equal - Liang’s doubled pawns are a weakness, but his slightly greater piece activity keeps the position balanced.
Vidit prepares to move his king to safety and link his rooks, improving coordination for the endgame battle ahead.
Vidit chooses to move his bishop instead of his king, correctly avoiding a line where Liang could sacrifice a rook for the bishop and generate chances.
Liang repositions his rook, setting the stage for a flank push with his h-pawn.
The first game to conclude in Round 9 of the Quantbox Chennai Grandmasters 2025 was Liang Awonder vs Vidit Gujrathi, ending peacefully after 31 moves.
The players opted for the Four Knights Defense, and an early queen trade set the tone for a calm encounter. With steady exchanges of material, the position transitioned smoothly into an equal endgame.
Neither side found a way to create winning chances, and the game was wrapped up with a repetition of moves!