Day 8 settled one question while amplifying another. Alireza Firouzja’s Triveni Continental Kings secured their third consecutive final appearance with a commanding position at the top of the table. But while the champions can breathe easy, the race for the second finals spot has become a knife-edge affair. Hou Yifan’s back-to-back wins with black propelled Alpine SG Pipers into sole possession of second place, while upGrad Mumba Masters suffered three consecutive defeats to fall behind alongside Ganges Grandmasters and PBG Alaskan Knights in a congested mid-table. Day 9’s three matches will determine who faces the Kings in Tuesday’s final.
Match 28: FYERS American Gambits vs Ganges Grandmasters (17:00 IST)
The opening match features two teams whose tournaments have ended in contrasting disappointment. American Gambits suffered narrow defeats to Alpine SG Pipers on Day 8, unable to build on their stunning demolition of Mumba Masters. Ganges Grandmasters have endured a spectacular collapse—four consecutive defeats have dropped them from contention, with their finals hopes hanging by the thinnest thread.
Key Matchups:
Icon Board: Hikaru Nakamura faces Viswanathan Anand in what could be the match of the day. Nakamura produced the tournament’s most dominant individual performance in the destruction of Mumba Masters, utterly outclassing MVL in a performance that showcased his peak form. Anand, meanwhile, has carried his team almost single-handedly but suffered a heartbreaking loss to Firouzja on Day 8, blundering in a complex position when a draw looked secured. The five-time world champion needs to shake off that disappointment quickly.
Men’s Boards: Richard Rapport and Vladislav Artemiev against Vincent Keymer and Javokhir Sindarov. Rapport remains the Gambits’ wildcard—capable of brilliance but frustratingly inconsistent. Artemiev has struggled to find his best form throughout. Sindarov continues to impress despite his team’s freefall, scoring his sixth win in nine games against Vidit on Day 8, while Keymer showed glimpses of quality by defeating Giri on Day 7.
Women’s Boards: Bibisara Assaubayeva and Teodora Injac versus Stavroula Tsolakidou and Polina Shuvalova. Assaubayeva lost to Hou Yifan twice on Day 8, while Injac bounced back from her defeat to Khadem by beating Batsiashvili. Shuvalova remains the Grandmasters’ most reliable performer alongside Sindarov, though Tsolakidou delivered a crucial checkmate against Batsiashvili on Day 7.
Prodigy Board: Volodar Murzin takes on Raunak Sadhwani. Murzin’s tournament has been a rollercoaster—hero against Maurizzi on Day 3, but unable to find consistency since. Sadhwani has struggled throughout but showed resilience in his win over Dardha.
What to Expect:
Both teams are playing for pride and momentum heading into the third-place playoff. The Grandmasters desperately need to stop their bleeding and restore some confidence after four brutal defeats. If Anand can recover from his Day 8 heartbreak and Sindarov maintains his excellent form, they have the firepower to win. The Gambits showed on Day 7 they can demolish anyone on their day—Nakamura is arguably the most dangerous player in the tournament when he catches fire—but their inconsistency has cost them. Expect an open, attacking encounter as both teams cut loose without finals pressure.
Match 29: Triveni Continental Kings vs upGrad Mumba Masters (18:30 IST)
This is it for the Mumba Masters. After suffering three consecutive defeats—the devastating annihilation by American Gambits, twin losses to Alpine SG Pipers, and a defeat to PBG Alaskan Knights despite MVL beating Gukesh—their finals dream hangs by a thread. They must defeat the already-qualified Kings and hope Alpine SG Pipers lose to the Knights in the evening match. Anything less, and their tournament ends in crushing disappointment.
Key Matchups:
Icon Board: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave versus Alireza Firouzja is the headline clash. MVL has been exceptional throughout—his only loss came to Nakamura on Day 1, and he defeated Caruana and Anand while holding off numerous challenges. His win over Gukesh on Day 8 showed he’s still producing world-class chess even as his team crumbles around him. Firouzja endured back-to-back defeats to Caruana and Gukesh on Day 6 that shattered his perfect record, but bounced back brilliantly against Anand on Day 8. With the Kings already qualified, will Firouzja play with freedom or will the pressure of facing a desperate opponent affect him?
Men’s Boards: Wesley So and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov face Wei Yi and Vidit Gujrathi. Wesley So has been magnificent when engaged, including his near-flawless destruction of Keymer on Day 6. Mamedyarov remains devastating—his double victories over Sindarov broke the Uzbek’s winning streak. Wei Yi has shown mental resilience throughout, while Vidit finally broke his drought on Day 6 before losing to Sindarov on Day 8. The Indians desperately need consistency from this board.
Women’s Boards: Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli versus Zhu Jiner and Alexandra Kosteniuk. Humpy’s victory on Day 6 ended a difficult run, but she lost to Hou Yifan on Day 3. Harika has been maddeningly inconsistent—her loss to Sara Khadem’s miraculous comeback on Day 8 typified the Masters’ struggles. Zhu has been exceptional for the Kings throughout, consistently delivering crucial points. Kosteniuk lost to Khadem on Day 6 but remains dangerous.
Prodigy Board: Bardiya Daneshvar against Marc’Andria Maurizzi. Daneshvar has struggled since throwing away a winning position on Day 3 against Leon Mendonca. Maurizzi’s Day 8 clutch win over Murzin gave the Kings their narrow victory over American Gambits and demonstrated his ability to deliver under pressure.
What to Expect:
This is a must-win for Mumba Masters, but they face a Kings team that can afford to play with freedom. The psychological burden is entirely on MVL’s shoulders—his team needs him to beat Firouzja while hoping his teammates step up collectively after three consecutive meltdowns. The Kings might field their strongest lineup to maintain momentum for the final, or they might rest key players knowing they’re already through. If Wesley So and Mamedyarov produce their best chess while Humpy and Harika finally deliver simultaneously, the Masters have a chance. But they’ve looked shattered after that Day 7 demolition, and confidence is fragile. Expect the Kings to come out determined to prove their Day 6 wobbles were an aberration.
Match 30: PBG Alaskan Knights vs Alpine SG Pipers (20:00 IST)
The evening’s finale could determine the second finalist. Alpine SG Pipers need just a draw to guarantee their spot in the final—even a narrow defeat might be enough due to superior standings. But if they lose and Mumba Masters defeat the Kings, MVL’s team will snatch second place. PBG Alaskan Knights can only reach the final with a comprehensive victory combined with a Mumba win, but they’ve transformed from tournament laughingstock to form team.
Key Matchups:
Icon Board: D Gukesh versus Fabiano Caruana is the blockbuster. Gukesh has been maddeningly inconsistent—brilliant victories over Caruana and Firouzja on Day 6, followed by a loss to MVL on Day 8. The world champion has shown flashes of his best but hasn’t found the week-long dominance expected. Caruana has been magnificent, carrying the Pipers almost single-handedly. His perfect icon board record was only broken by Gukesh’s defeat on Day 6, and he bounced back immediately by ending Firouzja’s perfect run. This rematch will be fascinating—can Gukesh repeat his Day 6 heroics or will Caruana reassert his dominance?
Men’s Boards: Arjun Erigaisi and Leinier Dominguez for the Knights against R Praggnanandhaa and Anish Giri. Arjun has been crucial during the Knights’ resurgence, though he lost to Wei Yi on Day 6. Dominguez produced a brilliant win over Mamedyarov on Day 8 despite time pressure, demonstrating quality when it matters. Giri played his best chess of the tournament on Day 6 by defeating Wei Yi, before losing to Keymer and bouncing back against Sindarov. Pragg continues searching for consistency but is improving gradually.
Women’s Boards: Sara Khadem and Kateryna Lagno against Hou Yifan and Nino Batsiashvili. Khadem’s miraculous comeback victory over Harika on Day 8 from a hopeless position typified the Knights’ never-say-die attitude. Lagno has been steady without spectacular. But this is Hou Yifan’s board to lose—she’s won three consecutive games with black, each worth four points, and has been the Pipers’ most decisive performer. Batsiashvili has been ultra-consistent with multiple victories but suffered her first loss to Tsolakidou on Day 7 before losing to Injac on Day 8.
Prodigy Board: Daniel Dardha faces Leon Luke Mendonca. Leon has delivered clutch performances throughout—his Day 3 and Day 4 victories turned matches around when desperately needed, and his Day 7 win over Shuvalova was crucial. Dardha has endured a nightmare tournament and lost to Sadhwani on Day 6.
What to Expect:
This match will be played under extraordinary pressure. The Pipers know a draw secures the final—they can play solid, controlled chess and wait for opportunities. But the Knights have nothing to lose and everything to gain. After starting with four consecutive defeats, they’ve become one of the most dangerous teams in the tournament. Gukesh and Arjun are finally producing the performances expected of them, and the supporting cast has stepped up repeatedly. If Caruana can neutralize Gukesh and Hou Yifan continues her remarkable winning streak with black, the Pipers should advance. But if the Knights catch fire as they did against the Grandmasters and push the Pipers hard while Mumba Masters beat the Kings, we’ll witness the tournament’s most dramatic finish.
The Championship Picture
Triveni Continental Kings have secured their spot in Tuesday’s final with an unassailable lead at the top. Behind them, chaos reigns. Alpine SG Pipers sit in second place and will advance to the final with a win or draw against PBG Alaskan Knights. Only upGrad Mumba Masters can overtake the Pipers, but they need the Pipers to lose to the Alaskan Knights while they beat the leaders. Mumba Masters must defeat Triveni Continental Kings and hope PBG Alaskan Knights halt Alpine SG Pipers’ winning run. For Ganges Grandmasters and PBG Alaskan Knights, mathematical possibilities exist but require unlikely scenarios. The battle for second place promises to deliver the drama this tournament deserves as we head into the final day of round-robin action.
