Before going into the deserved summary of what has been the culmination of an exceptional rise, the words and comment of the two-time US Champion Alex Yermolinsky say it all:

Perhaps one of the most astonishing and surprising aspects of this ascent to Mount Olympus is how unconventional it was. As a rule, by the time a player has climbed and clawed his way into that rarefied group, it is after a well-documented and well-accompanied trek through the ever-stronger players above, via invitations to tournaments of all echelons. Perhaps a tournament with a healthy mix of 2600-plus players, with a handful of 2700s, and then a slightly stronger group, each time stepping up this trial by fire, but not here. It isn't because Arjun Erigaisi was some form of maverick player, spurning such, paving his way in his own way. No, the Indian genius was simply devoid of any invitations to accept.

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Instead of railing against the injustice of it all, and rationalizing a lack of growth (had there been any) to it, he stoically came to terms with the dilemma, decided this did not actually prevent him from playing, and played everywhere he could, in strong opens around the world. In a short interview later he explained that he was not going to let this situation decide his fate, "I decided I don't care."

It also taught him to be ruthlessly efficient at playing players of all strengths and being a terror for even reputable 2600+ players. In August 2023 he was rated 2704 FIDE, down from 2710 in July. Today, after a brilliant win over former World Cup finalist, Dmitri Andreikin, who had defeated his compatriot Gukesh the day before, he is sitting on 2802.1 Elo. Don't scoff at that 0.1 Elo, since it is what sets him at 3rd in the world on the live ratings lists, just that much more than GM Hikaru Nakamura who is idle at 2802.

Bear in mind that a lot of what makes him the player he is is unconventional, and even this massive rise at such an elevated scale, is not new. One can argue it starts right at the beginning. 

The rise of a champion

Erigaisi was born in Warangal on September 3, 2003. He only discovered chess at the relatively 'late' age of 8, and even then, only started training regularly with a coach when he was 10. To put this in perspective, his compatriot Ramesh Praggnanandha became a full IM while still aged 10. When he was 13, the first real signs that he was not just another player manifested as he participated in the World U14 Championship, and came in 2nd. Remember that by this stage, it is not uncommon to have the top players already holding the grandmaster title, or closing in on it, while he was barely over 2300. Shortly after this breakthrough result, having just turned 14, and rated 2354 FIDE, he raced to achieve all three grandmaster norms in the span of just four months, and exactly a year later he was rated 2531.

It can be not a little challenging to be a bona fide super talent and yet find yourself being overshadowed by other supertalents of your generation and same country. It undoubtedly impacted his confidence as most media focused on his fellow players Praggnanandhaa, the youngest IM in history, and then Gukesh, the youngest GM ever (when he obtained the title).

Even so, in 2022, he dominated the Wijk aan Zee Challenger (10.5/13), then won the Indian Championship (8.5/11) and the Delhi Open (8.5/10), which featured the country's top young talents. Arjun confirmed his status as a rising superstar at the Chennai Olympiad, where he won gold on board three (8.5/11) playing for India-1, and later triumphed at the Abu Dhabi Open (7.5/9) with a performance rating of 2893, and Tata Steel India (12.5/18).

Arjun Erigaisi was majestic at the 2024 Olympiad with his second gold medal for board three with 10.0/11 and a 2946 performance. A beast. (credit: Maria Emelianova/chess.com)

In the 2024 Olympiad held in Budapest he demonstrated growth and exceptional fighting chess, and once again scored gold on board three, this time with a staggering 10.0/11 and a 2968 performance. On the October ratings list he appeared at a massive 2797 FIDE and world no.3, and the 2800 Club seemed a mere sneeze away. In fact, just a couple of days ago, after his win in round three of the European Chess Club Cup, he stood at 2799.6 Elo. Round it up you say? If it were so simple, the 2800 Club would enjoy more members.

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After a draw with Alexandr Predke in round four, leaving him at 2798 FIDE, everyone was biting their nails: would he manage the leap within the last three rounds? (credit: ECCC2024 website)

The brilliant Russian player Ian Nepomiachtchi, twice a challenger for the World title, has stood on the threshold at 2799.8, and the Azeri player Teimour Radjabov was at 2799.6, and though just about there, they cannot claim to actually have been there, however close. World records have been defined by smaller margins than this, and foot races are decided now by the thousandths of a second.

That said, Arjun Erigaisi's entry is not by such a microscopic margin, and quite frankly, there is every reason to believe he will raise it more. He need not fear he will be alone either, since it seems a foregone conclusion that at the very least Gukesh will be joining him sooner than later. But today is Arjun's day, and he will be the sole recipient of those hearty congratulations.

Links

• Arjun Erigaisi does not play milkmaid chess!