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A major shock lit up the opening day of the FIDE Grand Swiss as 18-year-old Hungarian prodigy Zsóka Gaál defeated seasoned Ukrainian star Anna Muzychuk, the current world No.5. Gaál, rated 2388, capitalised when the 35-year-old Muzychuk, last year’s Women’s Norway Chess runner-up and champion this year, forgot about her clock in a tense endgame.At this level, such time oversights are exceedingly rare, which made the result even more dramatic.For Gaál, the youngest player in the field, it was a statement victory that showcased not just talent but also nerves of steel against one of the most experienced players on the circuit.Watch:Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!In the open section, reigning world champion D Gukesh of India began his campaign with an emphatic win over French veteran Etienne Bacrot. Opting for the Caro-Kann Defense with black, Gukesh steered the game into a sharp middlegame, uncorking an exchange sacrifice that left Bacrot struggling. The 19-year-old Indian, already the youngest world champion in history, showed his trademark precision in complexities to score a full point.Elsewhere, top seed R Praggnanandhaa was held to a solid draw by American Jeffery Xiong. The game, arising from the French Defense exchange variation, never really veered out of balance, and a repetition sealed peace.Defending champion Vidit Gujrathi impressed with a convincing win against Germany’s Alexander Donchenko, while P Harikrishna suffered a setback, losing with white to Slovenian Anton Denchenkov. Nihal Sarin drew his opener against Svane Rasmus of Germany.In the women’s section, defending champion R Vaishali got off to a flying start by beating Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova of Uzbekistan. Vantika Agrawal also shone, defeating Ukraine’s Yulia Osmak, while D Harika was held to a draw by Israel’s Marcel Eforimski.The drama of Gaál’s upset and Gukesh’s dominant start has already set the tone for a thrilling tournament ahead.
