PM Narendra Modi congratulates Arjun Erigaisi as Indian GM matches Viswanathan Anand’s World Rapid and Blitz milestone

After a challenging 2025, Arjun Erigaisi ended the year on a high note, clinching a bronze medal at the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Doha. In the Blitz section semifinals, he was defeated by Nodirbek Abdusattorov. With this achievement, Erigaisi became only the second Indian, after Viswanathan Anand, to win medals in both sections of the World Rapid and Blitz Championships. Anand had accomplished the feat in 2017, winning rapid gold and blitz bronze.

Erigaisi’s sensational performance drew praise from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who tweeted, “India’s strides in chess continue! Congratulations to Arjun Erigaisi for winning the Bronze at the FIDE World Blitz Chess Championship in Doha, following his bronze medal in the FIDE Rapid Chess Championship recently. His skills, patience and passion are exemplary. His successes will continue to inspire our youth. My best wishes to him. @ArjunErigaisi.”

During the round-robin stage of the Blitz event, Erigaisi scored a notable victory against Magnus Carlsen, leaving the former World Champion visibly frustrated, slamming the table — a reaction reminiscent of his 2025 outburst after losing to D. Gukesh.

Erigaisi topped the round-robin Blitz standings with 15 points from 19 rounds, recording 12 wins, six draws, and a single loss. While he had defeated Abdusattorov in the round-robin stage, he could not replicate the result in the semifinals. Abdusattorov claimed the first game, then secured the match with a decisive win in the third, taking the series 2.5-0.5.

After the tournament, Erigaisi expressed his gratitude on X: “Thank you to my family, team and sponsor. Thank you to fellow chess players, organisers, volunteers and everyone else behind the scenes making it happen. Finally, thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout the year. It is always heartening to read the messages, they mean a lot.”