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Arjun Erigaisi wins Tata Steel Chess India 2022 Blitz with a round to spare, now World no.10

by Shahid Ahmed - 05/12/2022

India no.3 GM Arjun Erigaisi won Tata Steel Chess India 2022 Blitz with a round to spare 12.5/18. His score is the same as Nakamura and Anand tied in the 2018 edition of this event. Arjun scored two crucial wins on the final day against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in Round 15 and Hikaru Nakamura in Round 17. Bouncing back against the new World Fischer Random champion after suffering a loss against Iran no.1 Parham Maghsoodloo in Round 16 is where Arjun showed what champions are made of. This is Arjun's third Tata Steel event triumph. First one was - Rapid 2021, then Challengers in early 2022 and now this. The teenager is now World no.10 in Blitz in the live ratings. One thing is for sure, this year the World Rapid and Blitz is surely going to be an exciting event, thanks to these impactful performances. Photo: Lennart Ootes

Arjun wins his third Tata Steel event

"Yes for sure. It feels very good to finish first and second last year (Blitz) as well as this year (Rapid). I was slightly upset with my performance in Rapid but I am happy that I won the Blitz event." - Arjun Erigaisi on winning Tata Steel Chess India 2021 Rapid, 84th Tata Steel Chess Challengers earlier this year in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands and now Tata Steel Chess India 2022 Blitz. "The previous game, I think I shouldn't have lost to Parham. I had a very good position. I should have at least drawn that game. I was super upset after that, I didn't know how I managed to compose myself. I was even thinking to maybe try to make a quiet draw but I went for a very sharp line. I got a better position but it was a very topsy-turvy game. I was lost at some point. It was filled with mutual errors but I am fortunate that I managed to come out on top in the end. I am very thankful to Tata Steel for inviting me. It actually all started here last year in Kolkata, then I won the Wijk Challengers and this went well also. I will be playing in the Masters next year. So I really look forward to it." - Arjun on the importance of the game against Hikaru Nakamura in the penutlimate round, the precursor and aftermath of it.

Tata Steel Chess India 2022 Blitz winner - GM Arjun Erigaisi | Photo: Lennart Ootes

"I believe it's the same inside as well but there are some exceptions obviously. I think I just collapsed after the game against Parham. Also with Hikaru, I did show some emotions after the game." - Arjun on his composure during tense situations.

Tata Steel Chess India 2022 Rapid winner - GM Nihal Sarin | Photo: Lennart Ootes

"I am extremely happy to win the event. I did not expect to do so well in Rapid honestly. That was a very pleasant surprise. I really managed to play well. Blitz did not go so well at all. Still I am very happy overall and I want to thank Tata Steel for giving me the opportunity to play in this wonderful field, also my sponsor Akshayakalpa for the support." - Nihal Sarin on winning Tata Steel Chess India 2022 Rapid. "Just generally, I haven't done so well in Rapid." - Nihal when asked why he did not expect to do so well in Rapid.

"Anything more than 10 seconds is too much time for Nihal Sarin!" | Video: ChessBase India

The Tata Steel Chess India 2022 champions - GM Nihal Sarin (Rapid Open), GM Arjun Erigaisi (Blitz Open), GM Anna Ushenina (UKR, Rapid Women) and IM Vaishali R (Blitz Women) | Photo: Amruta Mokal

"Yes definitely it's nice to see that we are on the right track at least. They have made remarkable strides in the last year. One of the visions was, to make sure that India was well represented at the top of world chess. They are doing a great job. So full congrats to them and yeah I am very proud that it's working so well." - Vishy Anand on three out of the four champions of Tata Steel Chess India 2022 Rapid and Blitz being a WACA (Westbridge Anand Chess Academy) student.

Vishy Anand delivers his speech | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Round 10: Not an ideal start

GM Arjun Erigaisi (2750) did not have the perfect start. He lost the first game of the day against the reigning World Rapid champion and Olympiad Gold medalist, GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB, 2666). It was a topsy-turvy encounter which could have gone either player's way. GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE, 2733) defeated GM D Gukesh (2632) to jump into sole lead 7/10.

Full game: Hikaru Nakamura vs Nihal Sarin | Video: ChessBase India

Round 11: Shakh draws, Arjun bounces back

Arjun struck back immediately after a loss, against GM Vidit Gujrathi (2669). Mamedyarov drew his game with GM R Praggnanandhaa (2599). Thus, both Arjun and Mamedyarov are now at 7.5/11 each.

Vidit Gujrathi vs Arjun Erigaisi - Huge blunder | Video: ChessBase India
Wesley So vs Hikaru Nakamura | Resignation with a smile | Video: ChessBase India

Round 12: Arjun gains sole lead, Shakh loses

Arjun defeated GM D Gukesh (2632). Mamedyarov lost to GM Wesley So (USA, 2763). Meanwhile, GM Hikaru Nakamura (USA, 2909) registered his third consecutive win of the day. Arjun gained sole lead 8.5/12, closely followed by Nakamura 8/12 and Mamedyarov 7.5/12.

Round 13: Arjun stretches his lead by 1.5 points

Praggnanandhaa and Mamedyarov drew with Arjun and Nakamura respectively. Arjun maintaind his sole lead 9/13, Nakamura 8.5/13 and Mamedyarov 8/13.

Round 14: Nakamura maintains his chase

Arjun got back to his winning ways by defeating So. He moved to 10/14 and Nakamura 9.5/14 by handing Vidit his fourth consecutive loss of the day.

Nihal Sarin vs R Praggnanandhaa - The Rematch | Video: ChessBase India

Round 15: Arjun gets ahead by 1.5 points again

Arjun Erigaisi avenged his previous loss in the Blitz against Mamedyarov. The latter first overlooked a fork in time trouble before he blundered a piece. Arjun regained his 1.5 point lead, 11/15. Nakamura's inspired comeback was stopped by GM Parham Maghsoodloo (IRI, 2672).

Round 16: A minor setback for Arjun, Hikaru reduces the gap

Arjun suffered his second loss of the day against Parham. Nakamura defeated Gukesh to move to 10.5/16, a half point behind Arjun.

Arjun Erigaisi makes an illegal move! Arjun vs Maghsoodloo | Video: ChessBase India
Full game: GM Hikaru Nakamura vs GM D Gukesh | Video: ChessBase India

Round 17: Arjun stuns Nakamura

Hikaru Nakamura's hopes of winning the tournament was dashed by the 19-year-old Arjun Erigaisi. The teenager defeated Hikaru in the Rapid and both Blitz games, this win being the most significant one as it earned him the crown.

Full Game: Arjun vs Nakamura - Don't miss Hikaru's expression at the end | Video: ChessBase India
"I'm very proud of beating Hikaru in all three matches" | Video: ChessBase India

Arjun Erigaisi defeated Hikaru Nakamura three times in four days | Photo: Amruta Mokal
Closing moments of the Tata Steel Chess India 2022 | Video: ChessBase India

View from the audience during the final round | Photo: Amruta Mokal
Tata Steel Chess India 2022 Open Blitz | Round 10-18 Live commentary by IM Sagar Shah and IM Tania Sachdev | Video: ChessBase India

Photo Gallery

Arjun Erigaisi with Vishy Anand and Sagar Shah after winning | Photo: Amruta Mokal

GM Arjun Erigaisi with his mother | Photo: Aditya Sur Roy

CEO and Managing Director of Tata Steel - T V Narendran confirmed that the Tata Steel Chess India Rapid and Blitz tradition will continue in 2023 | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Tata Steel CEO Managing Director T V Narendran speaks about his company's vision and chess | Video: ChessBase India

The Arbiters (L to R) - IA Debasish Barua, IA Vipnesh Bhardwaj, IA Gopakumar M S and IA Asit Baran Choudhury | Photo: Aditya Sur Roy

The Directors of Gameplan Sports Pvt. Ltd - Jeet and Malavika Banerjee | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Tata Steel Chess Festival 2022 winners (L to R) - WCM Bristy Mukherjee (Women), IM Aronyak Ghosh (Blitz Open) and IM Neelash Saha (Rapid Rating Open) | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Tata Steel Chess Festival 2022 All India Rapid Rating Open winner - IM Neelash Saha 6/8 | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Tata Steel Chess Festival 2022 All India Blitz Open winner - IM Aronyak Ghosh 7.5/9 | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Rousing appreciation for Vishy Anand at Tata Steel Chess India 2022, Kolkata | Video: ChessBase India
"The heart rate guy" - Ashwin Subramanian | Video: ChessBase India
10 best pictures of Tata Steel Chess India feat. Lennart Ootes | Video: ChessBase India
The complete venue tour - Tata Steel Chess India 2022 | Video: ChessBase India
Vishy Anand on Arjun & Vaishali winning the Tata Steel Chess India 2022 Blitz | WACA Recap Day 5 | Video: ChessBase India

Replay Round 10-18 games

Round 18 results

Round 18 on 2022/12/04 at 1740 h
Bo.No.Rtg NameResultName RtgNo.
1102909
GMNakamura Hikaru1 - 0GMPraggnanandhaa R
25995
242632
GMGukesh D0 - 1GMSo Wesley
27636
332669
GMVidit Santosh Gujrathi1 - 0GMMamedyarov Shakhriyar
27337
422666
GMAbdusattorov Nodirbek½ - ½GMMaghsoodloo Parham
26728
512702
GMNihal Sarin½ - ½GMErigaisi Arjun
27509

Details

Final standings after Round 18

Rk.SNo NameRtgPts. TB1  TB2  TB3  TB4 
19
GMErigaisi Arjun275012,50108,25106
210
GMNakamura Hikaru290911,5094,50103
37
GMMamedyarov Shakhriyar27339,5082,5063
48
GMMaghsoodloo Parham267291,581,0062
53
GMVidit Santosh Gujrathi266990,578,0073
65
GMPraggnanandhaa R25998,5071,7573
71
GMNihal Sarin27028173,5062
86
GMSo Wesley27638165,5062
92
GMAbdusattorov Nodirbek26667,5068,2542
104
GMGukesh D26326,5057,2561

Details

Links

Official site

Information

Gameplan


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