Arjun Erigaisi Shines in 3-0 Thursday Tournaments: A Day of Ups and Downs in Blitz Chess

Arjun Erigaisi Dominates 3-0 Thursday Tournaments, Emin Ohanyan and Volodar Murzin Shine

July 10, 2026 — In an electrifying display of skill and strategy, Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi followed up his recent Titled Tuesday victory by clinching the first tournament of the 3-0 Thursday series on July 9. The day was filled with thrilling matches, as GM Emin Ohanyan staged a remarkable comeback to win the second tournament, while GM Volodar Murzin capped off the event by triumphing in the third.

First Tournament: Arjun Takes Another Blitz Title

Just two days after his five-minute chess victory, Arjun showcased his prowess in the three-minute format, emerging victorious among a competitive field of 231 players. Despite facing an early setback with a loss to FM Michail Vassis in the second round, Arjun rebounded spectacularly, going undefeated for the remainder of the tournament.

In a nail-biting ninth round, he narrowly escaped disaster against Murzin, overcoming a blunder that cost him a full piece. Entering the final round with a score of 8.5/10, Arjun was half a point behind GM Alexey Sarana. However, Sarana’s misstep against GM Alexander Grischuk allowed Arjun to seize the opportunity. Facing off against the legendary GM Hikaru Nakamura, Arjun secured a crucial victory, finishing the tournament with a total of 9.5 points and claiming first place. Sarana settled for second with nine points, edging out Grischuk on tiebreaks.

Second Tournament: Ohanyan Takes First Title

In the second tournament of the day, GM Emin Ohanyan finally broke through to claim his first title in the 3-0 Thursday series. Initially, it seemed that GM Denis Lazavik would dominate, winning his first six rounds and handing Ohanyan his only defeat. However, Lazavik faltered in the latter rounds, finishing with five consecutive draws, including a frustrating final round against IM Renato Terry.

This turn of events opened the door for Ohanyan, who needed a win against GM Parham Maghsoodloo to secure sole first place. He delivered, finishing the tournament with nine points. Sarana once again took second place, this time with 8.5 points, just ahead of Lazavik on tiebreaks.

Third Tournament: Murzin Wins for Second Straight Week

Murzin, who had a solid but unspectacular performance in the first two tournaments, found his stride in the third event. With a total of 8/11 points from the earlier tournaments, he needed just half a point more to secure a win. Heading into the final round, GM Jose Martinez held the lead but faltered against GM Fabiano Caruana, allowing Murzin to capitalize.

In a thrilling rematch against Arjun, whom he had lost to earlier, Murzin emerged victorious in a back-and-forth battle. This win brought him to a tie for first place with 8.5 points, but his superior tiebreaks secured him the victory, followed closely by Martinez and Caruana.

Conclusion

The 3-0 Thursday series continues to be a hotbed of competitive chess, featuring a combined prize fund of $3,000 weekly. With thrilling matches and unexpected outcomes, players and fans alike are eagerly anticipating the next round of action. As Arjun Erigaisi, Emin Ohanyan, and Volodar Murzin each showcased their unique talents, the chess community is left buzzing with excitement for what’s to come.