In a stunning upset that sent shockwaves through the chess world, India's young Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi defeated the reigning world number one, Magnus Carlsen, at the World Blitz Championship in Doha on Monday. The 22-year-old's precise timing and strategic move choices led to a victory so frustrating for Carlsen that he famously slammed the table after the loss.
A Dramatic 45-Move Battle
The critical ninth-round clash was a tense affair right from the opening. The players engaged in a Sicilian Defence, French Variation, a complex setup known for sharp tactics. The 45-move game was riddled with time scrambles and minor inaccuracies from both sides, as is common in fast-paced blitz chess. The climax came after Arjun's 45th move, when a piece accidentally slipped from Carlsen's fingers. Realizing his position was hopeless, the Norwegian champion could not contain his frustration and punched the table, a rare display of emotion from the usually composed superstar.
Arjun's Strong Run and the Leaderboard
This monumental win was part of a spectacular day for Arjun Erigaisi. Earlier, he had defeated co-leader Nodirbek Abdusattorov to seize the sole lead with 8.5 points. He then managed to split points with top contenders Fabiano Caruana and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (MVL) in the following two rounds. Arjun ended the day with a quick 18-move draw against the fourth seed, Daniil Dubov. Despite the loss to Arjun, Magnus Carlsen won his final round to stay firmly in contention, trailing the leaders by just one point.
At the end of the day's play, a three-way tie emerged at the top with Arjun Erigaisi, Fabiano Caruana, and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave all on 10 points each.
Other Indian Performances
There were mixed results for other Indian participants. Nagpur's first Grandmaster, Raunak Sadhwani, scored an impressive victory in his 13th-round game against Nils Grandelius, joining Magnus Carlsen on the points table. However, the Indian women players had a difficult day. The best performer among them was Divya Deshmukh with 6 points, who found herself 2.5 points behind the sole leader, Eline Roebers (8.5 points). This gap makes a podium finish for the Indian women a challenging prospect at this stage of the tournament.
The World Blitz Championship in Doha continues to deliver high-octane drama, with India's Arjun Erigaisi proving he can topple the very best in the game under immense pressure.
