India’s challenge ended at the Aimchess Rapid online chess tournament with the trio of D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi and Vidit Santosh Gujrathi bowing out in the quarter-finals.

Gukesh, who had beaten world champion Magnus Carlsen in the preliminary phase, went down 1.5-2.5 to Richard Rapport.

The 16-year-old Indian appeared to have gained the advantage when he took a 1.5-0.5 lead with a win in 32 moves in the second game. The first had ended in a stalemate.

Rapport, who is highly rated, showed his skills by winning the third game in 55 moves and then defeated his opponent in a marathon fourth game to end Gukesh’s hopes.

Erigaisi, who too had upset Carlsen in the preliminary round, was outclassed by the world No.1 Norwegian 0.5-2.5.

After managing a draw from a near-hopeless position in game one, Carlsen underlined his superiority to win the next two to advance to the last-four round.

Gujrathi was outplayed by Jan-Krzystof Duda of Poland, losing 0.5-2.5 without much of a fight.