The pressure is on! After a tough loss in Game 1, Anish Giri is in must-win mode as he takes the white pieces in this crucial second game. With elimination on the line, he’ll need to bring his sharpest prep and nerves of steel. On the other side, Nihal Sarin is riding high on confidence and precision - will he seal the deal or will Giri stage a dramatic comeback? Let’s find out!
Nihal Sarin shakes things up early by opting for the rarely-seen Nimzowitsch Defense - not a usual guest at the top level! But this is rapid chess, where surprise weapons thrive, and Nihal looks cool and confident.
Both players have completed castling, safely tucking their kings on the kingside. With development nearly complete, the stage is set for the real battle to begin!
Anish doubles his rooks with intent, seizing control of the open file and turning up the pressure.
Nihal swings his second rook into action, contesting the open e-file and matching Giri’s pressure.
Both players are holding their ground - balanced position, balanced clock. It’s shaping up to be a tense and strategic standoff, with everything still to play for!
They say the Queen and Knight make the trickier team - full of forks, traps, and tactical magic. Giri has that combo on the board… can he use it to tip the balance and squeeze out an edge?
Nihal seems content steering the game toward a draw - and why not? With a win in game 1 already in the bag, a half-point here is all he needs to punch his ticket to the next stage.
Wow - look at that king walk! Giri brings flair to the endgame with a daring and inspired king march. Entertaining and creative - he's going all in to create chances!
Nihal calmly holds his ground - no rush, no panic. He waits, watches, and keeps everything under control.
Nihal blunders big and just like that, the tide turns! Anish Giri now has a golden opportunity to strike back and win this game. What a twist!
With both players down to just six seconds, it’s now a test of nerves, speed, and sharp pre-moves. Every click counts - who will handle the pressure better?
Anish just pre-moved and blundered his queen - absolutely shocking! A heartbreaking moment for his fans, and a cruel reminder of how brutal fast chess can be.
In one of the most dramatic finishes of the Esports World Cup so far, Nihal Sarin advances to the next stage after a shocking end to his second game against Anish Giri. With Giri in a must-win situation to force Armageddon, he played brilliantly - dominating the position and pushing Nihal to the brink.
But just when it looked like Giri had everything under control, disaster struck. A hasty pre-move cost him his queen - an unthinkable blunder at this level - instantly flipping the result on its head. Nihal kept his composure and converted the gift, securing the win and eliminating one of the tournament’s most seasoned players.
A cruel reminder of how brutal fast time controls can be, and a heartbreaker for Giri fans. As for Nihal - he keeps marching on!