Day 6 delivered shocks that have blown the title race wide open. Defending champions Triveni Continental Kings suffered a stunning 12-8 upset loss to Alpine SG Pipers—their first defeat since Day 3—before narrowly edging PBG Alaskan Knights 10-9 in the evening to maintain their lead. The Kings sit precariously on 15 match points, just one ahead of upGrad Mumba Masters, who demolished Ganges Grandmasters 11-6. Day 7 features three crucial encounters that could reshape the championship picture heading into the final stretch.
Match 19: PBG Alaskan Knights vs Ganges Grandmasters (15:30 IST)
The day’s opening match features two teams moving in opposite directions. PBG Alaskan Knights finally came to life on Day 5, defeating Alpine SG Pipers to claim their first victory of the season, then followed it up with consecutive wins against American Gambits (9-7) and a narrow 9-10 loss to Triveni Continental Kings. The Knights have won two of their last three and appear to have found their rhythm at precisely the right moment. Ganges Grandmasters, meanwhile, have stumbled badly, losing three straight matches after their promising start.
Key Matchups:
Icon Board: World Champion D Gukesh faces Viswanathan Anand in a rematch of their Day 3 encounter won by Anand. Gukesh has shown flashes of brilliance—defeating both Caruana and Firouzja on Day 6—but consistency remains elusive for the young champion. Anand enters this clash having pushed MVL hard but failing to convert a winning position in their last meeting. The five-time world champion desperately needs this victory to keep his team’s fading hopes alive.
Men’s Boards: Arjun Erigaisi and Leinier Dominguez for the Knights against Vincent Keymer and Javokhir Sindarov. Arjun has been crucial during the Knights’ resurgence, delivering match-winning performances, though he lost to Wei Yi on Day 6. Sindarov’s four-game winning streak was snapped by consecutive losses to Mamedyarov, and he’ll be eager to bounce back. Keymer was outclassed by Wesley So’s near-flawless play last time out and needs to rediscover the form that troubled stronger opponents earlier in the tournament.
Women’s Boards: Sara Khadem and Kateryna Lagno versus Stavroula Tsolakidou and Polina Shuvalova. Khadem scored a comprehensive first win on Day 6 over Teodora Injac, finally breaking through after a difficult tournament. Shuvalova has cooled after her sensational opening three wins but remains the Grandmasters’ most consistent performer alongside Sindarov.
Prodigy Board: Daniel Dardha faces Raunak Sadhwani in a crucial battle between struggling prodigies. Both have endured difficult tournaments, though Sadhwani won on Day 6 against Daniel Dardha, which could give him the psychological edge.
What to Expect:
The Knights smell blood. After four consecutive defeats to start the tournament, they’ve transformed into one of the form teams. Gukesh and Arjun are finally delivering the performances expected of them, and the supporting cast is contributing crucial points. The Grandmasters are reeling—three straight losses have destroyed their early momentum, and Anand cannot carry this team alone. If the Knights maintain their momentum while the Grandmasters continue to struggle, this could get ugly. Expect the Knights to play with confidence while the Grandmasters desperately seek any spark to reignite their campaign.
Match 20: upGrad Mumba Masters vs Fyers American Gambits (17:00 IST)
The day’s marquee encounter pits the tournament’s second-placed team against a dangerous mid-table side capable of beating anyone. The Mumba Masters sit on 12 match points—just three behind leaders Triveni Continental Kings—and a victory here would put enormous pressure on the defending champions. American Gambits occupy fourth place on nine match points after their narrow 7-9 defeat to the Knights on Day 6, and they remain very much in contention for a finals berth.
Key Matchups:
Icon Board: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave against Hikaru Nakamura is the blockbuster clash everyone wants to see. MVL has been exceptional throughout, losing only to Nakamura on Day 1 while defeating Caruana and Anand. He came agonizingly close to suffering his first defeat at Anand’s hands on Day 6 but held firm to escape with a draw. Nakamura has been rock-solid but unable to secure the wins his team desperately needs from the icon position. His draw against Anand on Day 5 and loss to Firouzja on Day 3 have been costly. This rematch could determine the match outcome.
Men’s Boards: Wesley So and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov versus Richard Rapport and Vladislav Artemiev. Wesley So played a near-flawless game against Vincent Keymer on Day 6, demonstrating world-class form. Mamedyarov has been devastating, snapping Sindarov’s winning streak twice and consistently delivering for his team. Rapport remains the Gambits’ X-factor—capable of producing brilliancies like his stunning Day 3 masterpiece against Vidit, but also prone to quiet games. Artemiev lost to Arjun’s precise endgame play on Day 6 and needs to step up.
Women’s Boards: Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli face Bibisara Assaubayeva and Teodora Injac. Humpy finally found form on Day 6, contributing a crucial victory, while Harika has been inconsistent. Assaubayeva drew against Zhu Jiner on Day 5 and has shown glimpses of quality, though Injac suffered a comprehensive defeat to Khadem and remains under pressure.
Prodigy Board: Bardiya Daneshvar takes on Volodar Murzin in a battle of two players who’ve experienced both triumph and disaster. Daneshvar threw away a winning position on Day 3 against Leon Mendonca and has struggled to recover his confidence. Murzin was the Day 3 hero with his stunning comeback against Maurizzi but lost to Leon on Day 4.
What to Expect:
This is a must-win for the Mumba Masters. They’re applying maximum pressure on Triveni Continental Kings, and victory here would put them in prime position to snatch top spot if the Kings slip. The Gambits remain dangerous—Nakamura and Rapport can turn matches single-handedly—but they’ve lacked the collective performance needed to challenge the leaders consistently. The MVL-Nakamura clash will be fascinating given their history, while the men’s boards could swing the match either way. Expect both teams to come out swinging in what should be the most tactically complex encounter of the day.
Match 21: Triveni Continental Kings vs Alpine SG Pipers (18:30 IST)
The evening’s finale is a rematch of Day 6’s biggest shock. Fabiano Caruana ended Alireza Firouzja’s winning run on the icon board in a last-second scramble to help Alpine SG Pipers upset table toppers Triveni Continental Kings 12-8. The defending champions bounced back immediately by defeating the Knights 10-9, but the psychological damage from that Pipers loss may linger. The Kings lead with 15 match points, while the Pipers sit on nine points alongside the Gambits and Grandmasters.
Key Matchups:
Icon Board: Alireza Firouzja versus Fabiano Caruana is the rematch everyone’s talking about. Firouzja had won all five of his games before Caruana ended his perfect record, including victories over Gukesh, Nakamura, Anand, and MVL. The Iranian sensation then suffered his second consecutive defeat when Gukesh beat him in the evening match. Firouzja has looked shaken by these back-to-back losses after his dominant start. Caruana has been magnificent all tournament, carrying the Pipers almost single-handedly with his perfect Icon board record before Day 6. This clash will reveal whether Firouzja can recover his invincibility or if Caruana has found the blueprint to defeat him.
Men’s Boards: Wei Yi and Vidit Gujrathi for the Kings against R Praggnanandhaa and Anish Giri. Wei Yi recovered from his loss to Giri to strike against Arjun Erigaisi on Day 6, demonstrating mental resilience. Vidit finally broke through on Day 6, defeating Dominguez after his nightmare Day 4 mate-in-two blunder. Giri played a brilliant game to defeat the previously unbeaten Wei Yi on Day 6, his finest moment of the tournament. Pragg has been improving gradually and secured his first win on Day 3.
Women’s Boards: Zhu Jiner and Alexandra Kosteniuk against Hou Yifan and Nino Batsiashvili. Zhu has been exceptional for the Kings, consistently dominating opponents. Kosteniuk lost to Khadem on Day 6 after defeating Injac on Day 5. Batsiashvili has been ultra-consistent with multiple wins, while Hou Yifan is finding her stride after a slow start, crushing Humpy on Day 3.
Prodigy Board: Marc’Andria Maurizzi faces Leon Mendonca in another high-stakes encounter. Both have experienced dramatic swings—Maurizzi’s Day 3 collapse against Murzin and Mendonca’s clutch Day 3 and Day 4 victories that turned matches around.
What to Expect:
The Kings are wobbling. Two defeats in a single day—even with a narrow win sandwiched between—have exposed vulnerabilities the chasing pack will exploit ruthlessly. Firouzja’s aura of invincibility has been shattered, and the question is whether he can respond like a champion or if doubt has crept in. The Pipers have momentum and belief after their stunning Day 6 upset. Caruana will be supremely confident, Giri is playing inspired chess, and Batsiashvili has been their rock. This rematch could define both teams’ tournaments—a Kings victory reasserts their dominance, while a Pipers win would blow the title race wide open and potentially knock the champions off top spot. Expect fireworks from the first move.
The Championship Picture
After Day 6, Triveni Continental Kings lead with 15 match points, while upGrad Mumba Masters are on 12. PBG Alaskan Knights have surged to 9 points after winning two of their last three, while Alpine SG Pipers, Ganges Grandmasters, and Fyers American Gambits are all tied on 9 points. The Kings’ narrow one-match lead suddenly looks precarious, and a slip here could see them caught or even overtaken. The Mumba Masters are applying relentless pressure and sense an opportunity to seize top spot. For the mid-table pack, every match is now a playoff—lose and the finals become unreachable, win and they remain in contention. Day 7 promises to be decisive.
