Arjun Erigaisi shines in Freestyle Chess Grand Slam tour in Paris
Arjun Erigaisi Dominates Day 1 of Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Paris
Bengaluru: Arjun Erigaisi made a stunning start to the Paris leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam tour on Monday, slipping into demolition mode right away. The 21-year-old Indian chess prodigy defeated world No.1 Magnus Carlsen and world No.5 Fabiano Caruana in the first two rapid rounds, showcasing his exceptional skills on the board.
However, Erigaisi’s fine run was briefly halted by compatriot and reigning world champion D Gukesh in Round 3. Despite this setback, Gukesh’s victory over Erigaisi marked his first full point from a Freestyle chess game this year, after a winless performance in the first leg at Weissenhaus in February.
Of the four Indians participating in the 12-player event with 10+10 time control and a single round-robin format over the first two days, Erigaisi emerged as the standout performer on Day 1, securing 3.5 points. He was closely followed by Praggnanandhaa R at 2.5 points. Only eight players will advance to the classical knockouts after two days and 11 rounds of rapid games.
The unique format of the tournament adds an element of unpredictability, with the starting position for each round determined by a lottery machine-like device with 960 small wooden balls. Players are given ten minutes to discuss the position before the start of every round, with White and Black players huddling separately to strategize.
In Round 4, Gukesh faced off against Carlsen but ultimately succumbed to the five-time world champion’s prowess on the board. Despite navigating a challenging position, Gukesh maintained a remarkably calm heart rate of 70 bpm throughout the game. Carlsen’s victory marked his third win in four rounds, solidifying his position as a formidable contender in the tournament.
As the competition intensifies, fans can expect more thrilling matchups and strategic battles in the days to come. Stay tuned for more updates on the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Paris.