New Delhi: Arjun Erigaisi produced a composed and determined performance to defeat Viswanathan Anand in an all-Indian final and claim the Jerusalem Masters crown. The 22-year-old clinched the title after a gripping contest that began with two drawn rapid games before moving into blitz tie-breakers.
Erigaisi seized the advantage in the first blitz game, capitalising on a strong position with the white pieces to take a crucial lead. The second blitz encounter also saw him pressing for victory, but he eventually settled for a draw, which was enough to seal the match 2.5–1.5 and secure the championship. The win earned him USD 55,000, while Anand received USD 35,000 as runner-up.
Reflecting on the victory, Erigaisi acknowledged the difficulty of the path to the title, admitting that he faced several challenging moments across the event. He described both his semifinal match against Peter Svidler and the final against Anand as particularly intense. In the opening game of the final, he briefly lost control despite holding the advantage, but he managed to regain composure and continue fighting.
Earlier in the tournament, Erigaisi had defeated Svidler in the semifinal, while Anand advanced by overcoming reigning World Blitz champion Ian Nepomniachtchi. In the third-place playoff, Svidler edged out Nepomniachtchi 2.5–1.5 to claim the bronze position.
The Jerusalem Masters featured a 12-player invitational round-robin format, with the top four progressing to the knockout stage. Erigaisi’s triumph adds another significant milestone to his rapidly growing career and further solidifies his position among the world’s rising chess stars.
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