Arjun Erigaisi Archives - National Times

21 Jul

Freestyle Chess Grand Slam: Aronian Wins Title, Arjun and Praggnanandhaa Finish Sixth and Seventh

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusinessArjun Erigaisi, Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, Levon Aronian, Magnus Carlsen, R Praggnanandhaa

National Times Bureau, July 21, 2025: Grandmaster Levon Aronian of the United States claimed the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam title after a tense 1.5-0.5 win over compatriot Hans Moke Niemann in the finals. The American star pocketed $200,000 for his victory, capping off an intense competition that featured some of the world's top chess players.India's Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa, who had both impressed in earlier rounds, finished sixth and seventh respectively. Arjun suffered a 0-2 defeat to American GM Fabiano Caruana, while Praggnanandhaa beat Wesley So 1.5-0.5 to end his campaign on a high note. Arjun earned $40,000 for…

19 Jul

Arjun Erigaisi’s Remarkable Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Run Ends in Semis; Niemann Reaches Final

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsSportsArjun Erigaisi, Fabiano Caruana, Freestyle Chess Grand Slam, Hans Niemann, Levon Aronian

Weissenhaus, Germany, July 19 — Arjun Erigaisi's historic march at the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam came to a halt in the semifinals after a 0-2 loss to Levon Aronian. Despite the setback, the 20-year-old grandmaster etched his name in history as the first Indian to reach the final four of this elite event, highlighted by wins over Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura in earlier rounds.Erigaisi entered the semifinals high on momentum, having stunned Carlsen in a play-off and then dispatched Nakamura with confident play. Against Aronian, however, the Indian star faltered at critical moments. The first game saw Arjun fail…

18 Jul

Arjun Erigaisi Powers Into Semis, Praggnanandhaa Falls to Caruana in Freestyle Grand Slam

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsSportsArjun Erigaisi, Fabiano Caruana, Freestyle Grand Slam Tour, Magnus Carlsen, Praggnanandhaa

National Times Bureau, July 18, 2025: Chennai’s Arjun Erigaisi stormed into the semifinals of the prestigious USD 750,000 Freestyle Grand Slam Tour with a dominant victory over Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov. The 20-year-old Indian Grandmaster secured the match 1.5-0.5, displaying top form and clinical precision.In contrast, fellow Indian star R Praggnanandhaa bowed out of the title race after a marathon 3-4 loss to the USA’s Fabiano Caruana. The seven-game thriller saw Praggnanandhaa take the lead on three occasions, but Caruana’s resilience helped him snatch victory in the decider.Arjun was unstoppable against Abdusattorov, maintaining an edge from the opening in both games.…

17 Jul

Praggnanandhaa Stuns Carlsen, Enters Freestyle Grand Slam Quarterfinals with Erigaisi

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsSportsArjun Erigaisi, Freestyle Grand Slam Tour, Magnus Carlsen, R Praggnanandhaa

National Times Bureau, July 17: R Praggnanandhaa pulled off a stunning win against world number one Magnus Carlsen, advancing to the top-bracket quarterfinals of the USD 750,000 Freestyle Grand Slam Tour. Fellow Indian Arjun Erigaisi also secured a quarterfinal spot, marking a strong showing for India in the prestigious chess event.The 19-year-old Praggnanandhaa displayed precise tactical play from the outset, seizing the initiative and keeping the pressure on Carlsen. Despite the Norwegian getting some chances, the Indian teenager broke through with creative piece play, securing a memorable win.Carlsen’s defeat sparked a downward spiral. He lost to Wesley So in the…

08 Jul

Arjun Erigaisi and D Gukesh Headline FIDE Grand Swiss as India Eyes Candidates Spots

nishuthapar10 CommentsSportsArjun Erigaisi, D Gukesh, FIDE Grand Swiss 2025, Indian chess, Samarkand chess tournament

New Delhi, July 8, 2025 — Indian chess stars Arjun Erigaisi and reigning world champion D Gukesh have secured the top two seedings for the fourth FIDE Grand Swiss chess tournament, set to be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from September 3 to 16. The high-stakes event promises an enhanced prize fund and coveted spots in the 2026 Candidates Tournament, the gateway to a world championship title match.The Grand Swiss remains a crucial battleground on the chess calendar. According to tournament regulations, the top two finishers in both the Open and Women’s sections will earn tickets to the Candidates, where the…