New Delhi: Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi capped a memorable year by winning a bronze medal at the World Blitz Chess Championship in Doha, drawing praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his consistency and growing influence in the sport. The 22 year old also secured a bronze earlier at the World Rapid Chess Championship, making it a rare double podium finish at the global level.
Erigaisi topped the blitz league stage standings with 15 points to qualify for the semifinals, delivering a series of impressive performances against elite opponents. His campaign included victories over eventual champion Magnus Carlsen, Javokhir Sindarov and Nodirbek Abdusattorov, underlining his ability to compete with the very best in high pressure formats.
With this achievement, Erigaisi became only the second Indian male player after Viswanathan Anand to win a World Blitz medal in the Open category. His consistency across both rapid and blitz events further highlighted India’s growing depth in international chess.
Congratulating the young star, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India’s progress in chess was continuing and described Erigaisi’s skills, patience and passion as exemplary. He expressed confidence that the Grandmaster’s success would inspire the next generation of players and extended his best wishes for the future.
In the blitz championship, Erigaisi completed 19 rounds with 12 wins, six draws and just one loss. His strong league stage showing earned him a semifinal clash against Abdusattorov, who had narrowly qualified on tie break rules. Despite having beaten the Uzbek Grandmaster earlier in the event, Erigaisi was unable to repeat the result when it mattered most.
The semifinal proved challenging, as Erigaisi failed to convert an early advantage in the opening game and eventually fell behind. Abdusattorov carried the momentum into the next encounter and secured the match before opting for a quick draw to seal his place in the final.
Despite the setback, Erigaisi’s twin bronze medals marked a significant milestone and reinforced his status as one of India’s brightest chess talents heading into the new season.
