SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan – Fourteen-year-old Yagiz Khan Erdogmus held world champion D. Gukesh to a draw in the second round of the FIDE Grand Swiss on Friday, but a single move may have given him the chance to do more.
The Turkish prodigy, playing Black, defended a difficult position for much of the game before Gukesh’s 40th move slip allowed counterplay. In the critical moment, Erdogmus chose Rg7, forcing immediate equality. Grandmasters David Howell and Judit Polgar, commentating live, said Rg8 would have kept winning chances.
“Magnus Carlsen would play Rg8. Alireza Firouzja would play Rg8. Even I would play Rg8,” Polgar said.
Engines also evaluated the move as equal, but with practical chances for Black to pressure the world champion. “Equal doesn’t mean safe,” Howell noted. “It means you’re still asking questions.”
Instead, Erdogmus settled for a half point — still a significant result for a teenager facing the reigning world champion for the first time in classical play.
The draw left Gukesh on 1.5 points after two rounds, following his first-round win against Etienne Bacrot. Erdogmus also moved to 1.5 points.
In other games, India’s R. Praggnanandhaa rebounded with a win over Ivan Zemlyanskii, while Arjun Erigaisi and Nihal Sarin also posted victories. In the women’s section, R. Vaishali moved into joint lead with two points after defeating Eline Roebers.
The FIDE Grand Swiss continues in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with two Candidates Tournament spots on the line.
Watch the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss live here:
I’m Xuan Binh, the founder of Attacking Chess, and the Deputy Head of Communications at the Vietnam Chess Federation (VCF). My chess.com and lichess rating is above 2300, in both blitz and bullet. Follow me on Twitter (X).
