India, March 30 -- Two twenty-year olds - R Praggnanandhaa and Javokhir Sindarov brought the fireworks and spectacle that lit up the first day of the three-week Candidates tournament with sparkling wins. The competition that will pick 19-year-old reigning world champion Gukesh's opponent for the match, fittingly saw his peers step up and show intent as early as day 1.

India's lone torchbearer in the Open field, Praggnanandhaa (playing with white pieces), whose form had been shaky heading in, was swivelling in his chair with contentment within the first five moves. His opponent, Dutchman Anish Giri, wore a smirk and then sat hunched over the board, falling behind on the clock by half an hour, presumably surprised by his opponent's opening...