As the game between Magnus Carlsen and Arjun Erigaisi in Round 9 of the FIDE World Blitz Championship approached its climax, the official live stream experienced a freezing glitch. When it resumed shortly after, Carlsen was seen leaving the scene while Erigaisi calmly prepared to reset the chessboard. It was later revealed that Carlsen had lost due to a time expiration. In the brief moment of lost coverage, significant events had unfolded in the match between the two players, who had recently won gold and bronze medals at the World Rapid Championship.
Carlsen, facing intense pressure, fumbled his queen during a crucial moment in a blitz game as time expired, leading to his defeat against Arjun. This loss echoed Carlsen’s earlier defeat to Gukesh in a classical match at Norway Chess.
Just a day after winning the World Rapid Championship, Carlsen expressed his love for the blitz section. Initially, he appeared set to achieve a double victory after eight rounds without a loss, but then faced defeat against Arjun. While Carlsen secured gold, Arjun notably took home bronze, having previously managed to draw against Carlsen during the Rapid Championship despite having fewer pieces.
Arjun shares the lead in the standings with Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Fabiano Caruana at 10 points, while Carlsen trails with 9 points, along with 11 others, including five Indians. The top four players will advance to the semi-finals after six more rounds. Carlsen has acknowledged Arjun’s aggressive playstyle, likening him to a ‘mad man on the chess board’ due to his unique risk-taking approach.
Arjun, as noted by his coach Srinath Narayanan, exhibits a unique approach to chess, constantly aiming for victory and willing to risk loss in pursuit of that goal. Unlike many top players who tend to play it safe to avoid draws, Arjun’s high ambition drives him to take risks. He attributes this mindset to the support he received from Srinath in his formative years.
During the pandemic, Arjun’s coach Srinath emphasized the need for improvement in areas beyond his existing skills. Initially strong yet somewhat restrained, Arjun focused on enhancing his opening preparation and adopting a more ambitious playing style, transforming previous weaknesses into strengths. Srinath recognized this potential for growth in Arjun’s game.
Srinath highlights Arjun’s exceptional hunger for knowledge and quick memory in opening theory, qualities that are rare among elite chess players. Kushager Krishnater, who worked closely with Arjun, notes that his unique perception of chess is difficult for others to understand, even for those who have collaborated with him, signifying his extraordinary approach to the game.
Srinath highlights Arjun’s exceptional hunger for knowledge and quick memory in opening theory, qualities that are rare among elite chess players. Kushager Krishnater, who worked closely with Arjun, notes that his unique perception of chess is difficult for others to understand, even for those who have collaborated with him, signifying his extraordinary approach to the game.
