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Gautam Gambhir and the BCCI are in the final stages of negotiating his salary. Once his remuneration is settled, the BCCI will officially announce him as India's next head coach. Following Rahul Dravid's departure after leading India to victory in the T20 World Cup, Gambhir emerged as the leading candidate for the position. He was among the two applicants, along with WV Raman, who underwent interviews conducted by the Cricket Advisory Committee consisting of Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjape, and Sulakshana Naik. Numerous reports strongly indicate that Gambhir is set to assume the role.Recently, Gambhir was seen filming a farewell video at Eden Gardens, marking the end of his tenure with the Kolkata Knight Riders, where he played a pivotal role in their IPL championship after a decade. Despite Gambhir's apparent candidacy, the delay in the announcement primarily stems from ongoing negotiations over his salary. According to reports from The Indian Express, these negotiations are nearing conclusion.The BCCI had advertised the position with negotiable remuneration based on experience. Gambhir is expected to command a higher salary than his predecessor, Rahul Dravid, who earned approximately 12 crore annually.This will mark Gambhir's first national-level coaching assignment, having previously served as mentor for teams in the IPL. Currently, India's team in Zimbabwe is under the guidance of NCA head VVS Laxman. BCCI secretary Jay Shah has confirmed India's upcoming white-ball series in Sri Lanka will have a new head coach in charge.Additionally, the BCCI plans to invite applications for the team’s support staff following the end of tenures for batting coach Vikram Rathour, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, and fielding coach T Dilip post-T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies. Gambhir is expected to have autonomy in selecting his support staff once the application process is completed.
Puja Tomar became the first Indian to win a UFC bout, earlier this month.Earlier this month, mixed martial arts fighter Puja Tomar became the first Indian to win a bout at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The 28-year-old achieved a split-decision victory over Brazilian Rayanne dos Santos in the straw-weight division (52 kg), winning on her UFC debut. Now, Tomar aspires to be a trailblazer for MMA in India, and hopes to see more stars rise in the sport from the country. She also spoke of her intense routine in order to prepare for her UFC bouts."I just want to keep fighting and keep winning my fights and grow MMA in India," said Tomar to NDTV.'I want people to know and follow MMA, whether it's through me or someone else," she said. "It takes something else to hit someone and get hit. It's a different kind of hard work, so I want everyone in India to know about MMA," she added.Hailing from the small town of Budhana in Uttar Pradesh, the 28-year-old signed her contract with UFC in October 2023.DEBUT DUBS Puja Tomar takes the split decision at #UFCLouisville pic.twitter.com/IMYkYlcDKj— UFC (@ufc) June 8, 2024Tomar goes by the ring name "The Cyclone", and her training routine certainly backs up her name."There's a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes," said Tomar. "People only see us in the octagon fighting. We were training for 3-4 months. I was in a very long camp since my flights were cancelled," she continued.Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comTomar stated that her coach Mike Ikelei refuses to go easy on her in her training, preparing her for the toughest situations in the ring."There have been times where I'm exhausted and on the ground unable to get out, but he'd call the guys to come and hit me more," said Tomar to NDTV. "I'd cry and he'd tell them to keep going, and that I needed to find my way out," she said.The UFC is widely-considered to be the highest standard in mixed martial arts, and Tomar's victory sets an example for budding Indian MMA fighters to follow.Also Read: T20 World Cup 2024: Rohit Sharma's Post-Match Virat Kohli Remark Proves Why He's India Captain
Afghanistan has achieved unprecedented success in cricket, securing a spot in the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup. This milestone marks a remarkable journey for a team that only attained full ICC membership in 2017. Often labeled as underdogs in major tournaments, Afghanistan impressed with standout performances against teams like New Zealand and Australia to reach this stage.While credit primarily goes to the players for their exceptional performance under pressure, India and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have played a crucial, albeit hidden, role in Afghanistan's ascent. Here's how India and BCCI contributed to Afghanistan's rise in world cricket:Providing a Home Ground: The Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida became Afghanistan's temporary home ground in 2015, thanks to the BCCI. This shift from Sharjah allowed Afghanistan to host international matches against Ireland in Greater Noida by 2017. Additionally, Afghanistan "hosted" a Twenty20 series against Bangladesh in Dehradun, further cementing their ties with India.Guidance from Indian Coaches: The BCCI facilitated Afghan cricket by providing top-notch facilities and coaching expertise. Former Indian players like Lalchand Rajput, Manoj Prabhakar, and Ajay Jadeja have coached the Afghanistan team, with Jadeja serving as mentor up to the ODI World Cup in 2023.Influence of the IPL: The Indian Premier League (IPL) has significantly bolstered the careers of Afghan players. Many Afghan cricketers participating in the IPL not only enhance their skills but also serve as inspirations back home. This exposure and financial support have been instrumental in their development and success.The strong collaboration between Afghanistan and India, facilitated by the BCCI, underscores the strategic support that has propelled Afghanistan to achieve remarkable feats in international cricket.Also Read: Not Gautam Gambhir, This India Legend To Be Team's Coach In Next Series: Report
Shubman Gill will be sent home after the US matches in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, according to Cricbuzz. A reserve pacer, likely Avesh Khan, might also return home after the June 15 game against Canada in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the publication added. These two have been travelling as reserve players with the Indian team.Shubman Gill, who typically plays as an opening batter, and pacer Avesh Khan may need to stay back if a regular player gets injured during cricket practice on June 14 or the game the next day.However, this is unlikely because bad weather in Florida could disrupt the World Cup schedule. Also, Yashasvi Jaiswal is on the squad along with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as the third opener. Rohit and Virat opened for India in the first three games.The team will likely rely more on spinners in the Caribbean, so an extra pacer might not be needed. It also means that India’s premium spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, is likely to be included in the team.Both Shubman and Avesh were in Florida as of June 13, as they flew with the team from New York to Fort Lauderdale on a chartered flight on June 12, the publication added. After their game at Nassau County International Stadium in Long Island, the charter was arranged for both the India and USA teams.The travels for both the players were planned for the US leg only, unless there were unexpected player injuries, Cricbuzz reported. They went as travelling reserves because it would be hard for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to send replacements quickly from India to the US or the Caribbean if a player got injured.Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed to stay backMiddle-order batter Rinku Singh and pacer Khaleel Ahmed, who have also been in the team as reserves, will stay with the squad and travel to Bridgetown, Barbados, for India's first Super 8 game on June 20 against Afghanistan, according to the publication.India’s next two games are in Antigua on June 22 (opposition yet to be decided) and St. Lucia on June 24 (against Australia).Also Read: ICC T20 World Cup 2024: Super Eight qualification scenarios for all the teams
The ongoing ICC T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA has already provided high-quality action, memorable upsets, and standout performances.As the tournament progresses, here's a look at what each team needs to do to advance to the Super Eight stage.Group A Teams: India, United States, Canada, Pakistan, Ireland1. India (4 points | 1.455 NRR): With two wins and a strong net run rate, India is in a favorable position. A victory against either the USA or Canada will likely secure their progression.2. United States (4 points | 0.626 NRR): The USA has had a perfect start. Winning either of their remaining matches against India or Ireland should be enough to advance.3. Canada (2 points | -0.274 NRR): Canada needs to win their upcoming matches against Pakistan and India to stay in contention. Beating Pakistan is crucial.4. Pakistan (0 points | -0.150 NRR): Pakistan must win both of their remaining games against Canada and Ireland and improve their net run rate. They also need either India or the USA to lose their matches.5. Ireland (0 points | -1.712 NRR): Ireland needs to win against the USA and Pakistan and hope other results favor them, which is a tough ask given their current position.Group B Teams: Scotland, Australia, Namibia, England, Oman1. Scotland (5 points | 2.164 NRR): A win against Australia will confirm their progression. They might already have enough points to advance, depending on other results.2. Australia (4 points | 1.875 NRR): Another win, particularly against Scotland, will likely secure their spot in the next round.3. Namibia (2 points | -0.309 NRR): Namibia needs to win their remaining matches against Australia and England, which will be challenging.4. England (1 point | -1.800 NRR): England must win their remaining games against Oman and Namibia and hope for favorable outcomes in other matches, particularly the Australia-Scotland game.5. Oman (0 points | -1.613 NRR): Eliminated - Oman cannot progress but have shown competitive spirit.Group C Teams: Afghanistan, West Indies, Uganda, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand1. Afghanistan (4 points | 5.225 NRR): One more win against either Papua New Guinea or West Indies will secure their spot.2. West Indies (4 points | 3.574 NRR): A win against either New Zealand or Afghanistan is needed for progression.3. Uganda (2 points | -4.217 NRR): Uganda needs a big win against New Zealand and other results to go in their favor.4. Papua New Guinea (0 points | -0.434 NRR): PNG is unlikely to advance but will aim to gain experience and potentially cause an upset.5. New Zealand (0 points | -4.200 NRR): New Zealand needs to win all their remaining matches against West Indies, Uganda, and Papua New Guinea.Group D Teams: South Africa, Bangladesh, Netherlands, Nepal, Sri Lanka1. South Africa (6 points | 0.603 NRR): Already in a strong position, South Africa is close to securing their spot in the Super Eight.2. Bangladesh (2 points | 0.075 NRR): Beating the Netherlands is crucial. Winning against Nepal could also secure their progression.3. Netherlands (2 points | 0.024 NRR): The Dutch need wins against Bangladesh and Nepal to advance.4. Nepal (0 points | -0.539 NRR): Nepal must win all their remaining matches to have a chance, which is challenging given their current form.5. Sri Lanka (0 points | -0.777 NRR): Sri Lanka needs big wins against Nepal and the Netherlands and must rely on other results to favor them.Also Read: T20 World Cup Broadcasters Announce Special Feed For Hearing And Visually Impaired Fans
The ninth edition of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup will be jointly hosted by the USA and West Indies, with all key details being highlighted.Format:The ninth edition of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup will feature a record-breaking 20 teams. The tournament will be co-hosted by the USA and West Indies from June 1 to 29.In the first stage, the 20 teams are divided into four groups of five, with each team playing a minimum of four matches against their group members.The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super 8s stage, while the bottom three teams from each group will be eliminated.The eight advancing teams will then be split into two groups for the Super 8s phase. Each team will play three matches against their new group rivals to determine the semi-finalists.The semi-finals will feature the top two teams from each Super 8s group, and the winners will move on to the final in Barbados on June 29.Venues:Three venues in the USA and six in the Caribbean will host the tournament, including 16 contests in Lauderhill, Dallas, and New York, as well as the highly anticipated India-Pakistan match in the new Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in Long Island on 9 June.41 games are scheduled to take place in the Caribbean, spanning six islands, featuring semi-finals in Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana, and concluding with the title match in Barbados on June 29th.Groups:Group A: India, Pakistan, USA, Ireland, CanadaGroup B: England, Australia, Namibia, Scotland, OmanGroup C: West Indies, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Uganda, Papua New GuineaGroup D: South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Netherlands, Squads:Most teams have announced initial squads for the T20 World Cup, with the option to modify their 15-player squads as much as they wish until 25 May.Approval from the ICC's Event Technical Committee will be needed for any changes made after that date.Fixtures:Sat, 1 June 2024 - USA v CANADA, Dallas, 07:30 PM LOCALSun, 2 June 2024 - WEST INDIES v PAPUA NEW GUINEA, Guyana, 10:30 AM LOCALSun, 2 June 2024 - NAMIBIA v OMAN, Barbados, 08:30 PM LOCALMon, 3 June 2024 - SL v SOUTH AFRICA, New York, 09:30 AM LOCALMon, 3 June 2024 - AFGHANISTAN v UGANDA, Guyana, 08:30 PM LOCALTue, 4 June 2024 - ENGLAND v SCOTLAND, Barbados, 10:30 AM LOCALTue, 4 June 2024 - NETHERLANDS v NEPAL, Dallas, 10:30 AM LOCALWed, 5 June 2024 - INDIA v IRELAND, New York, 09:30 AM LOCALWed, 5 June 2024 - PAPUA NEW GUINEA v UGANDA, Guyana, 07:30 PM LOCALWed, 5 June 2024 - AUSTRALIA v OMAN, Barbados, 08:30 PM LOCALThur, 6 June 2024 - USA v PAKISTAN, Dallas, 10:30 AM LOCALThur, 6 June 2024 - NAMIBIA v SCOTLAND, Barbados, 03:00 PM LOCALFri, 7 June 2024 - CANADA v IRELAND, New York, 09:30 AM LOCALFri, 7 June 2024 - NEW ZEALAND v AFGHANISTAN, Guyana, 07:30 PM LOCALFri, 7 June 2024 - SRI LANKA v BANGLADESH, Dallas, 07:30 PM LOCALSat, 8 June 2024 - NETHERLANDS v SOUTH AFRICA, New York, 09:30 AM LOCALSat, 8 June 2024 - AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND, Barbados, 01:00 PM LOCALSat, 8 June 2024 - WEST INDIES v UGANDA, Guyana, 08:30 PM LOCALSun, 9 June 2024 - INDIA v PAKISTAN, New York, 09:30 AM LOCALSun, 9 June 2024 - OMAN v SCOTLAND, Antigua, 01:00 PM LOCALMon, 10 June 2024 - SOUTH AFRICA v BANGLADESH, New York, 09:30 AM LOCALTue, 11 June 2024 - PAKISTAN v CANADA, New York, 09:30 AM LOCALTue, 11 June 2024 - SRI LANKA v NEPAL, Florida, 07:30 PM LOCALTue, 11 June 2024 - AUSTRALIA v NAMIBIA, Antigua, 08:30 PM LOCALWed, 12 June 2024 - USA v INDIA, New York, 09:30 AM LOCALWed, 12 June 2024 - WEST INDIES v NEW ZEALAND, Trinidad, 08:30 PM LOCALThur, 13 June 2024 - ENGLAND v OMAN, Antigua, 03:00 PM LOCALThur, 13 June 2024 - BANGLADESH v NETHERLANDS, St. Vincent, 10:30 AM LOCALThur, 13 June 2024 - AFGHANISTAN v PAPUA NEW GUINEA, Trinidad, 08:30 PM LOCALFri, 14 June 2024 - USA v IRELAND, Florida, 10:30 AM LOCALFri, 14 June 2024 - SOUTH AFRICA v NEPAL, St. Vincent, 07:30 PM LOCALFri, 14 June 2024 - NEW ZEALAND v UGANDA, Trinidad, 08:30 PM LOCALSat, 15 June 2024 - INDIA v CANADA, Florida, 10:30 AM LOCALSat, 15 June 2024 - NAMIBIA v ENGLAND, Antigua, 01:00 PM LOCALSat, 15 June 2024 - AUSTRALIA v SCOTLAND, St. Lucia, 08:30 PM LOCALSun, 16 June 2024 - PAKISTAN v IRELAND, Florida, 10:30 AM LOCALSun, 16 June 2024 - BANGLADESH v NEPAL, St. Vincent, 07:30 PM LOCALSun, 16 June 2024 - SRI LANKA v NETHERLANDS, St. Lucia, 08:30 PM LOCALMon, 17 June 2024 - NEW ZEALAND v PAPUA NEW GUINEA, Trinidad, 10:30 AM LOCALMon, 17 June 2024 - WEST INDIES v AFGHANISTAN, St. Lucia, 08:30 PM LOCALWed, 19 June 2024 - A2 v D1, Antigua, 10:30 AM LOCALWed, 19 June 2024 - B1 v C2, St. Lucia, 08:30 PM LOCALThur, 20 June 2024 - C1 v A1, Barbados, 10:30 AM LOCALThur, 20 June 2024 - B2 v D2, Antigua, 08:30 PM LOCALFri, 21 June 2024 - B1 v D1, St. Lucia, 10:30 AM LOCALFri, 21 June 2024 - A2 v C2, Barbados, 08:30 PM LOCALSat, 22 June 2024 - A1 v D2, Antigua, 10:30 AM LOCALSat, 22 June 2024 - C1 v B2, St. Vincent, 08:30 PM LOCALSun, 23 June 2024 - A2 v B1, Barbados, 10:30 AM LOCALSun, 23 June 2024 - C2 v D1, Antigua, 08:30 PM LOCALMon, 24 June 2024 - B2 v A1, St. Lucia, 10:30 AM LOCALMon, 24 June 2024 - C1 v D2, St. Vincent, 08:30 PM LOCALWed, 26 June 2024 - Semi 1, Trinidad and Tobago (reserve day 27 June), 10:30 AM LOCALThur, 27 June 2024 - Semi 2, Guyana, 08:30 PM LOCALSat, 29 June 2024 - Final, Barbados, 10:00 AM LOCALSpecific conditions for T20 World CupIf a game ends in a draw, a Super Over will be held, and if the Super Over also ends in a draw, additional Super Overs will be played until a winner is determined.Extra time is also provided to guarantee that all knockout matches are finished during the semi-final and final rounds of the competition.A combined total of 250 minutes of extra time is allocated for the two semi-finals, with the first semi-final set to have 60 minutes at the end of play on June 26 and an additional 190 minutes on June 27.On June 27, the second semi-final has an extra 250 minutes allocated for the scheduled day, and the final on June 29 has a backup day scheduled for June 30.Prizemoney:The prizemoney for the ninth edition of the T20 World Cup is still yet to be finalised.Warm-up fixtures:A total of 17 teams will participate in warm-up fixtures between May 27 and June 1, with South Africa scheduled to play an intra-club match between their own squad in Florida on May 29.These warm-up fixtures will be 20 overs per side and will not have T20I status, allowing teams to field all members of their 15-player squad.Monday 27 MayCanada v Nepal, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Grand Prairie, Texas 10h30Oman v Papua New Guinea, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago 15h00Namibia v Uganda, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago 19h00Tuesday 28 MaySri Lanka v Netherlands, Broward County Stadium, Broward County, Florida 10h30Bangladesh v USA, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Grand Prairie, Texas 10h30Australia v Namibia, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago 19h00Wednesday 29 MaySouth Africa intra-squad, Broward County Stadium, Broward County, Florida 10h30Afghanistan v Oman, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago 13h00Thursday 30 MayNepal v USA, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Grand Prairie, Texas 10h30Scotland v Uganda, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago 10h30Netherlands v Canada, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Grand Prairie, Texas 15h00Namibia v Papua New Guinea, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago 15h00West Indies v Australia, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago 19h00Friday 31 MayIreland v Sri Lanka, Broward County Stadium, Broward County, Florida 10h30Scotland v Afghanistan, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago 10h30Saturday 1 JuneBangladesh v India, Venue TBC USAAlso Read: Warm-up fixtures announced for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 warm-up match fixtures have been announced, scheduled from Monday, 27 May to Saturday, 1 June across the USA and Trinidad and Tobago.The venues hosting the 16 warm-up matches ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 include Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Texas, Broward County Stadium in Florida, Queen’s Park Oval and Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad and Tobago.A total of 17 teams play the warm-up games, including South Africa, who are playing an intra-squad on the 29th in Florida.These warm-up fixtures will be 20 overs per side and will not have international T20 status, allowing teams to field all members of their 15-player squad.In a departure from the previous cycle, teams can now choose to play up to two warm-up matches, depending on their arrival time at the event.The match between the West Indies and Australia at Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday, May 30 will be open to fans. Tickets can be purchased at tickets.t20worldcup.com or at box offices located at the National Cricket Centre and Queen’s Park Oval from May 16 onwards.ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 Warm-up FixturesMonday 27 MayCanada v Nepal, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Grand Prairie, Texas 10h30Oman v Papua New Guinea, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago 15h00Namibia v Uganda, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago 19h00Tuesday 28 MaySri Lanka v Netherlands, Broward County Stadium, Broward County, Florida 10h30Bangladesh v USA, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Grand Prairie, Texas 10h30Australia v Namibia, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago 19h00Wednesday 29 MaySouth Africa intra-squad, Broward County Stadium, Broward County, Florida 10h30Afghanistan v Oman, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago 13h00Thursday 30 MayNepal v USA, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Grand Prairie, Texas 10h30Scotland v Uganda, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago 10h30Netherlands v Canada, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Grand Prairie, Texas 15h00Namibia v Papua New Guinea, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago 15h00West Indies v Australia, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago 19h00Friday 31 MayIreland v Sri Lanka, Broward County Stadium, Broward County, Florida 10h30Scotland v Afghanistan, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago 10h30Saturday 1 JuneBangladesh v India, Venue TBC USAAlso Read: T20 World Cup Broadcasters Announce Special Feed For Hearing And Visually Impaired Fans
The 17-year-old edged past compatriot Arjun Erigaisi on tie-breaks after both Indians finished on 4.5 points after the completion of the seventh and final roundIndian Grandmaster D Gukesh took a significant step towards earning a spot in the prestigious Candidates tournament next year by winning the Chennai Grand Masters 2023 chess tournament in Chennai on Thursday.Local boy Gukesh, 17, edged past compatriot Arjun Erigaisi on tie-breaks after both Indians finished on 4.5 points after the completion of the seventh and final round. Another Indian Grandmaster P Harikrishna, whom Gukesh drew with in the final round on Thursday, finished third on the leaderboard with 4 points.Going into the final round of the eight-player tournament, Gukesh needed only a draw in his clash with Harikrishna with black pieces. Erigaisi made things rather interesting by defeating Russian-born Hungarian Grandmaster Sanan Sjugirov in the final round. Gukesh and Erigaisi were equal on points and on par in terms of head-to-head but the former came out triumphant on the basis of a superior tie-break score.The tournament victory gives Gukesh — who in September this year had surpassed Viswanathan Anand as the top-ranked Indian player in the FIDE charts — a great chance of booking a seat in next year's Candidates tournament in Toronto in April through the FIDE Circuit route.With six of the eight spots already taken (including those by Indians R Praggnanandhaa and Vidit Gujrathi), two remain up for grabs via the 2023 FIDE Circuit (for one player who achieves the highest results during the eligible tournaments in 2023) and the FIDE rating route. By winning the tournament in Chennai, Gukesh has put himself on top of the FIDE Circuit leaderboard and will be in a battle with Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri to finish on top with one more tournament to go.The FIDE Circuit ends with the World Rapid and Blitz Championship in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from December 26-30. Gukesh, though, was quoted as saying by chess.com after his tournament win that he was still "50-50" about participating in the World Rapid and Blitz.Gukesh remained unbeaten through the seven rounds in Chennai, notching up wins against Russian-born Serbian Grandmaster Alexandr Predke and Sjugirov in the fourth and fifth round, respectively, to go with the five draws. The win over Sjugirov with black pieces on Tuesday had put Gukesh in the sole lead."It was really good. I finally managed to enjoy myself in a tournament," Gukesh told chess.com. "Obviously, the last few months have been very stressful."Erigaisi had an impressively strong finish to the tournament (with three wins overall). He defeated Sjugirov on Thursday and Parham Maghsoodloo, the Iranian GM who was the top seed in Chennai, with black in the penultimate round. However, his opening-round defeat to compatriot Harikrishna proved to be the difference in the end. The 20-year-old Grandmaster needed to win this tournament to stand a chance of qualifying for the Candidates via FIDE Circuit.Harikrishna, the 37-year-old from Guntur, meanwhile also remained unbeaten with six draws that followed the win over Erigaisi. Top-seeded Maghsoodloo, another competitor who was in contention for the Candidates through a triumph in Chennai, could not quite live up to his billing and finished sixth with 3.5 points and a couple of defeats.ASlso Read: European Court of Justice rules FIFA, UEFA breached EU Law over Super League ban
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