Exciting Highlights from the Latest 3 0 Thursday Tournaments: Mahdavi, Terry, and Erigaisi Shine!

IM Reza Mahdavi Dominates 3 0 Thursday Tournaments, While Renato Terry and Arjun Erigaisi Shine

February 26, 2026 — In an electrifying day of chess, International Master Reza Mahdavi continued his winning streak by clinching the first tournament of the 3 0 Thursday series, following his triumph the previous week. Not to be overshadowed, IM Renato Terry secured his record seventh title in the second tournament, while Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi celebrated his inaugural victory in the third tournament of the day.

Mahdavi’s Remarkable Comeback

The first tournament saw Mahdavi, fresh off his recent victory, start strong with three consecutive wins. However, a setback came in round four when he faced GM Mahdi Orimi, suffering his first loss. Undeterred, Mahdavi rebounded against FM Semyon Puzyrevsky, expertly navigating a tricky Latvian Gambit to secure a win.

After a sixth-round defeat to CM Nika Volkov left him trailing the leader, GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Mahdavi rallied spectacularly, winning his final five games, including a decisive victory over the formidable GM Hikaru Nakamura. This impressive finish brought Mahdavi to nine points, enough to claim first place on tiebreaks. IM Yoseph Taher, who also mounted a stunning comeback by winning his last seven games, took second, while Arjun Erigaisi rounded out the top three with 8.5 points.

Terry’s Historic Seventh Title

In the second tournament, IM Renato Terry entered with a shared record for the most 3 0 Thursday victories alongside GM Jose Martinez. Despite recent competition, Terry showcased his prowess, winning seven games and drawing four. A pivotal moment came in round three when he turned a precarious position into a victory against GM Cristobal Henriquez, which ultimately secured his tournament win.

Henriquez, who finished strong with 7/8, took second place on tiebreaks after defeating Martinez in the final round. GM Sergey Drygalov claimed third place with 8.5 points, narrowly missing out on victory due to a last-round loss.

Arjun’s First Championship Win

The excitement continued in the third tournament, where GM Arjun Erigaisi demonstrated that top classical players excel in blitz formats as well. After winning his first five games, including a notable victory against IM Aaron Mendes, Arjun solidified his lead with a crucial win in the tenth round against IM Vidyarthi Vyom.

In the final round, Arjun secured his first 3 0 Thursday championship by defeating IM Satria Cahaya, finishing with nine points. His co-leader, GM Tuan Minh Le, could only manage a draw, settling for third place with 8.5 points.

A Thriving Chess Community

The 3 0 Thursday series, a weekly set of three Swiss tournaments for verified titled players, continues to draw top talent, with a combined prize fund of $3,000 each week. As players like Mahdavi, Terry, and Erigaisi showcase their skills, the excitement and competitiveness of the chess community remain at an all-time high.

With the next round of tournaments on the horizon, fans eagerly await to see who will rise to the occasion and claim victory in the thrilling world of blitz chess.