Indian Contingent Ready to Take on World’s Best at World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship 2026

Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi is gearing up to face a tough challenge as he aims to secure a spot in the 2026 Candidates tournament, making him the first Indian to achieve this feat. Erigaisi will kick off his campaign at the World Rapid and Blitz chess tournament, where he will have to overcome formidable opponents to keep his dreams alive.

Currently trailing behind Fabiano Caruana of the United States in the qualification list for 2024, Erigaisi will need to put up a stellar performance at the World Rapid Chess Championship. The last Indian to clinch the title was Koneru Humpy in 2019, with Viswanathan Anand achieving the feat in 2017.

The competition will see Magnus Carlsen defending his title as the top seed in both rapid and blitz categories. Erigaisi will have to outshine Carlsen, Caruana, and Hikaru Nakamura to secure a spot in the prestigious tournament.

While the participants list boasts top players from around the world, Indian chess enthusiasts can also look forward to R. Praggnanandhaa, Raunak Sadhwani, and Aravindh Chithambaram in the open section. In the women’s category, Humpy will lead the Indian contingent, supported by rising stars like R. Vaishali and Divya Deshmukh.

The tournament offers a total prize pool of USD 90,000 for the open section and USD 60,000 for the women’s section. With high stakes and fierce competition, all eyes will be on Erigaisi and his fellow Indian participants as they strive to make their mark on the global chess stage.