Fujairah Superstars: Major upsets at the start

The Fujairah Global Chess Championship made its debut in the United Arab Emirates with over 530 players from more than 70 countries competing across three sections. The main event is the Superstars tournament, a nine-round Swiss open which is part of the 2025 FIDE Circuit. The tournament began with notable surprises, including Pranav Venkatesh’s (pictured) victory over top seed Nihal Sarin in the first round. | Photo: Vivek Sohani