Arjun Erigaisi Praises R Praggnanandhaa’s Historic Norway Chess Victory: “A Great Fighter”
Arjun Erigaisi Hails R Praggnanandhaa as a “Great Fighter” After Historic Norway Chess Triumph
In a remarkable display of resilience, Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has etched his name in chess history by becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious Norway Chess tournament. His fellow countryman, Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi, praised Praggnanandhaa’s tenacity, calling him a “great fighter” for his stunning comeback after facing back-to-back losses.
Praggnanandhaa, just 20 years old, found himself at the bottom of the six-player standings midway through the tournament. However, he turned the tide dramatically, clinching four consecutive victories to finish at the top. This remarkable turnaround has been hailed as one of the most significant achievements in Indian chess since D Gukesh became the youngest world champion in December 2024.
“I didn’t follow the last couple of rounds closely because I was traveling, but I kept an eye on the rest,” Erigaisi shared with ChessBase India during the UzChess Cup in Tashkent, where he is competing alongside notable players like Vidit Gujrathi and American GM Hans Niemann. “Pragg showed great mental strength, especially after losing two in a row, including a tough game against Gukesh. It’s very challenging to recover from such setbacks, but he demonstrated what a great fighter he is.”
Erigaisi expressed his happiness at Praggnanandhaa regaining his form after a challenging few months, adding, “I’m sure this confidence will help him continue to perform well.”
While Praggnanandhaa basked in the glory of his victory, the tournament also saw a surprising performance from Magnus Carlsen, who finished fourth despite being a strong favorite. Erigaisi commented on Carlsen’s unexpected outcome, saying, “It’s surprising when Magnus doesn’t do well, but these things happen. He wins so many tournaments; one bad tournament is just an off day.”
Arjun Erigaisi Shines in UzChess Cup
As for his own performance, Erigaisi kicked off the UzChess Cup with a draw against GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov but quickly bounced back, securing his first win against defending champion Nodirbek Yakubboev. “I’m feeling good. It was an interesting game, especially towards the end with a lot of tactics to calculate,” he said, reflecting on his victory.
Currently, Erigaisi is tied for second place with world No. 5 Nodirbek Abdusattorov, both holding 1.5 points after two rounds. The top spot is occupied by 19-year-old GM Mukhiddin Madaminov, who has won both of his matches, including a notable victory over Russian GM Ian Nepomniachtchi.
As the chess world watches closely, the spotlight remains on Praggnanandhaa’s historic win and Erigaisi’s promising performance, both of which signal a bright future for Indian chess on the global stage.