Nihal
Giri
Nihal
 
Giri
 
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
1

⚔️ Nihal vs Giri - Elimination Round Begins!

Welcome to Day 2 of the Esports World Cup 2025 - and it's elimination time! Today’s matches are all about survival, and we’re starting with a nail-biter: Nihal Sarin takes on Anish Giri in an elimination showdown!

Nihal, the young bulletproof prodigy, is known for his calm nerves and rapid instincts. Giri, the ever-prepared grandmaster with a razor-sharp sense of strategy, brings experience and control. It’s youth vs wisdom, instinct vs preparation - and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

It’s a 10+0 time control, two games only. If it’s tied, we head to Armageddon. One advances. One is eliminated.

Get ready - this one’s going to be electric! ⚡

-09:-30 g3
1
2
3 turns without comments
3

Bold and Offbeat: Nihal Mixes It Up Early!

Nihal opens the game with a surprising and unconventional approach, steering the battle into less-explored territory right from the start.

-02:-17 Qa4
3
4
2 turns without comments
4
-07:-21 Nb6
5
9
10 turns without comments
10
00:-01 d3
10
-07:-15 Na5
11
1 turn without comment
11

✅ Kings Tucked In!

Both players have castled and secured their kings - early safety on the board as the real battle begins to unfold.

-05:-38 O-O
12
14
6 turns without comments
15
02:32 Rc1
15
18
7 turns without comments
19
04:13 d4
19
21
4 turns without comments
21
-02:-35 g5
22
1 turn without comment
22

Gaining Space!

Giri expands on the kingside, pushing his pawns forward to claim space and initiate pressure.

03:40 f5
23
25
5 turns without comments
25
02:30 Nb4
26
27
3 turns without comments
27
03:12 Ba6
28
1 turn without comment
28
05:20 Na2
29
1 turn without comment
29
-02:-10 Nb4
30
1 turn without comment
30
-02:-07 Na2
31
05:54 Ra1
31
1 turn without comment
32

♟️ No Draws Today!

With this bold move, Nihal declines the repetition and signals his fighting spirit - he’s not here to split the point, he’s here to win!

00:15 Bd2
32
35
7 turns without comments
36
00:-37 Qc2
36
38
5 turns without comments
39

⚖️ Tension Builds: Balanced but Dynamic!

The position remains finely poised - Giri carries a slight structural weakness with his isolated central pawn, but compensates with the bishop pair. Both sides are gearing up for a deep positional battle!

05:22 gxf5
39
1 turn without comment
40
05:44 Qc6
40
43
6 turns without comments
43
06:46 Bb7
44
45
3 turns without comments
45
00:-33 Qc6
46
46
2 turns without comments
47
08:25 Bb5
47
48
3 turns without comments
49

⏳ Endgame Edge: Trouble Brewing for Giri?

Nihal steers the game into an endgame where he holds a clear edge - better structure and all the momentum. Giri’s in a tough spot now... can he hold the fort, or is this slipping away?

00:08 Bd7
49
02:16 Be4
50
1 turn without comment
50
00:02 Ke7
51
51
2 turns without comments
52

??BLUNDER??

Missed Moment for Nihal!

Nihal misses a powerful opportunity - he could’ve challenged Giri’s bishop, indirectly targeting the vulnerable f-pawn. A bishop trade would have tilted the endgame heavily in Nihal’s favor.

05:03 Ke2
52
53
2 turns without comments
53
02:14 Bc2
54
57
8 turns without comments
58
00:-20 h4
58
60
4 turns without comments
60

Equal Fight Despite the Odds

Despite being a pawn down, Giri is holding firm, his solid technique keeps the endgame balanced for now.

00:08 Be4
61
65
9 turns without comments
65

🚨 Blunder Alert: Giri’s Bishop Trapped!

A costly slip by Giri - his bishop now finds itself with severely limited mobility. Nihal will be looking to squeeze every ounce of this advantage. This could be the turning point!

07:37 Bc2
66
68
6 turns without comments
69
01:54 Kb5
69
70
3 turns without comments
71
00:-04 Bc4
71
72
2 turns without comments
72
02:27 Bc6+
73
73
2 turns without comments
74
05:09 Bb5
74
75
2 turns without comments
75
00:19 Kd7
76

⚡ Nihal Strikes First! Giri on the Brink

Nihal Sarin delivers a masterclass in Game 1, outplaying Giri with composed precision and deep prep.

From the opening to the endgame, he looked in control and now he’s one step away from knocking out the Dutch superstar. All eyes on Giri in Game 2... can he find a way back, or is this the end of the road?

04:00 Kxb6