Indian grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi reflected on the early drawbacks he had in his style and pointed out the changes that he made. Arjun scaled remarkable heights this year, showcasing his consistency and dominance with victories at the Menorca Open A, the Stepan Avagyan Memorial, and the WR Chess Masters Cup in London.
In September, he led Team India to a historic gold medal at the Chess Olympiad, delivering an exceptional performance on board three with an astounding rating performance of 2968. His contributions not only secured team success but also earned him an individual gold medal.
The same month, Arjun ascended to become India’s top-rated player, achieving a career-high live rating of 2801 in December. By crossing the prestigious 2800 ELO mark, he joined the exclusive club of elite players, becoming only the second Indian, after the legendary Viswanathan Anand, to reach this milestone.
Speaking to PTI, the Indian grandmaster said that earlier he used to lose games due to over-ambition and lack of objectivity. Arjun claimed that now he is striving to channel his ambition in a balanced way.
“I used to lose games because of over-ambition and a lack of objectivity, but now I strive to channel my ambition in a balanced way.”
At just 21 years old and currently ranked world No. 4, Arjun is set to make his debut at the prestigious Norway Chess tournament next year. Known for its status as one of the most elite events on the chess calendar, the tournament will showcase Arjun’s youthful energy and extraordinary skill on a global stage.
Arjun shared his excitement about competing in the event, particularly praising its unique and innovative format.
“There are a lot of exciting things about Norway Chess, but for me, I would say the time control and Armageddon format stand out the most to me,” he said.
The Norway Chess tournament features a unique six-player double round-robin format, bringing together some of the world’s top male and female players for an intense competition.
The 2025 edition is scheduled to run from May 26 to June 6, promising another thrilling chapter in the tournament’s illustrious history.
