ESPN India’s Daily Sports Blog: Arjun Erigaisi breaks into world top-5 in FIDE rating list, Praggnanadhaa wins armageddon against world champion Liren
Arjun Erigaisi breaks into world top-5 in FIDE rating list
India’s Arjun Erigaisi has made a significant leap in the world of chess, breaking into the top-5 of the FIDE rating list. His impressive performance in the French Team Chess Championship 2024 has propelled him to this new height, making him the highest ranked Indian by live rating.
With an ELO rating of 2769.7, Arjun has gained 8.7 points to his tally, putting him behind only the likes of Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, and Ian Nepomniachtchi. Earlier this week, he reached a career-high live rating of 2771.2, a feat achieved only by the legendary Viswanathan Anand in Indian chess history.
Representing the Metz Fischer Chess Club, the 20-year-old has been in exceptional form, winning four out of five matches in the French Team Chess Championship. His victories include notable wins over fellow Indian P Harikrishna and Germany’s Vitaly Kunin. With two rounds remaining in the competition, Arjun is poised for further success.
Arjun’s recent achievements also include a second-place finish in the TePe Sigeman Chess Tournament and a joint-fifth finish in the Sharjah Masters Open Tournament. In April, he secured the Menorca Open crown by defeating GMs Kirill Alekseenko and Maksim Chigaev.
Norway Chess: Praggnanadhaa shines, Humpy victorious
Meanwhile, in the ongoing Norway Chess tournament, Grandmaster R Praggnanadhaa showcased his skills by drawing against world champion Ding Liren and then winning the armageddon tiebreaker. Liren, who avoided a fifth consecutive loss, couldn’t maintain his momentum in the decisive game against Praggnanadhaa.
In the women’s section, GM Vaishali faced consecutive losses in the classical format, while Humpy secured her first classical win of the tournament by defeating Vaishali.
Other notable results from the tournament include Hikaru Nakamura’s thrilling armageddon victory over Magnus Carlsen, narrowing the gap between them at the top of the table. Carlsen leads with 13 points, followed closely by Nakamura with 12.5 and Praggnanadhaa with 11 points.
In the women’s section, Anna Muzychuk claimed the top spot after winning in armageddon against Ju Wenjun. Muzychuk leads with 12 points, followed by Wenjun with 11.5 and Vaishali with 10 points.
With exciting developments in the world of chess, Indian players continue to make their mark on the global stage, showcasing their talent and determination.