Round 5 of the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 delivered a series of unexpected results. Top seed Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa and reigning World Champion D Gukesh both suffered defeats, altering the leaderboard in the tournament hosted in the Isle of Man.
Praggnanandhaa, who entered the tournament as a favorite, was defeated by Matthias Bluebaum of Germany. Playing with the white pieces, Praggnanandhaa was outmaneuvered in the middlegame. The bigger shock was D Gukesh’s loss to Abhimanyu Mishra, the world’s youngest Grandmaster. Mishra, playing with skill beyond his years, capitalized on Gukesh’s inaccuracies.
Arjun Erigaisi of India secured a convincing win against Nikita Vitiugov, now representing Switzerland. Erigaisi played with his usual sharpness and tactical acumen. Iran’s Parham Maghsoodloo continued his successful run, defeating Richard Rapport of Hungary. Maghsoodloo’s aggressive and precise play allowed him to take the sole lead. With qualification for the Candidates Tournament at stake, the competition remains intense. Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh need to regroup, while Erigaisi and Maghsoodloo look to build on their success. The tournament is set for more excitement in the upcoming rounds in Isle of Man.