Praggnanandhaa And D Gukesh Fall As Maghsoodloo Takes Sole Lead News24 –

The FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 continues to serve up drama, and Round 5 was no exception. In a day filled with upsets and rising stars asserting their authority, top seed Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa and reigning World Champion D Gukesh both suffered unexpected defeats, shaking up the leaderboard in the prestigious tournament held in Isle of Man.

Pragg and Gukesh Stunned

R Praggnanandhaa, who came into the tournament as the top seed and one of the favourites, suffered a major setback at the hands of Germany’s Matthias Bluebaum. Playing with the white pieces, Pragg appeared slightly off-form and failed to find his rhythm as Bluebaum gradually outmaneuvered him in the middlegame.

While one upset is newsworthy, the bigger shock of the day came when World Champion D Gukesh fell to the USA’s Abhimanyu Mishra – the world’s youngest ever Grandmaster. Mishra, still only 16 but playing with a maturity beyond his years, capitalized on Gukesh’s positional inaccuracies to notch a memorable win. For Gukesh, it was a rare off day in an otherwise solid tournament.

Erigaisi Strikes Back

India’s campaign wasn’t all gloom, however. Arjun Erigaisi bounced back strongly with a convincing win over the experienced Nikita Vitiugov, who now plays under the Swiss flag after switching federations from Russia.

Playing with his usual sharpness and tactical alertness, Erigaisi made light work of Vitiugov in a game that will surely be studied for its dynamic complexity. The win puts Arjun back in the hunt, adding intrigue to an already unpredictable tournament.

Maghsoodloo Marches On

Meanwhile, Iran’s Parham Maghsoodloo continued his dream run in the tournament, defeating Hungary’s Richard Rapport with the black pieces to emerge as the sole leader with 4.5 points from five rounds.

Maghsoodloo, who once soared to a 2740+ rating and has been working his way back into elite circles, played with aggression and precision to dismantle Rapport’s creative but risky setup. The result marks a significant statement from the Iranian star – one that suggests he’s more than ready to rejoin the world’s top echelon.

What’s Next?

As the Grand Swiss heads into the second half, the tournament is wide open. With multiple qualification spots for the Candidates Tournament on the line, every round is crucial. For Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh, the challenge now is to regroup and rediscover their best form quickly, while players like Erigaisi and Maghsoodloo will look to ride the momentum deeper into the event.

Round 6 promises even more fireworks, and if the past few days are any indication, expect the unexpected in Isle of Man.