India’s rising chess sensation Arjun Erigaisi cemented his place among the world’s elite by clinching the bronze medal at the 2025 FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship in Doha, Qatar, becoming only the second Indian male player – after five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand – to reach the podium at the prestigious event.
The 22-year-old grandmaster from Warangal, Telangana, finished with 9.5 points at the end of 13 rounds in the highly competitive Swiss-format tournament, reported The Indian Express.
With his third-place finish, Arjun stood shoulder to shoulder with silver medallist Vladislav Artemiev of Russia and champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway, the reigning world No. 1 and widely regarded as the greatest chess player of all time.
Notably, Arjun outperformed several other top Indian players, including Aravindh Chithambaram (16th), Nihal Sarin (19th), Gukesh Dommaraju (20th), and R Praggnanandhaa (28th), reaffirming his current stature as India’s top-ranked player.
The tournament featured a 15-minute base time with a 10-second increment per move, testing players’ rapid decision-making under intense pressure.
Arjun lost only two games – against silver medallist Artemiev and Turkish prodigy Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus – but maintained consistency throughout, earning praise from players and commentators alike for his tenacity and tactical brilliance.
This wasn’t the first time Arjun had proven his mettle against Carlsen. Earlier in 2025, he had stunned the Norwegian in a classical play at Norway Chess and later beat him again in blitz in Doha.
At the World Rapid Championship, their match-up was a gripping draw, with Arjun defending resiliently from a material deficit – a testament to his maturity under pressure.
Carlsen, who courted controversy during the tournament by pushing a cameraman after a defeat, eventually won the title with a lead of a full point. Despite the drama, the highlight for many was Arjun’s poised performance against the Norwegian maestro.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Arjun on social media, calling his podium finish “a proud moment for the country” and applauding his determination, reported NDTV.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu echoed the sentiment, noting that Arjun had revived India’s historic presence at the World Rapid stage.
India’s Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya lauded both Arjun and Koneru Humpy, who secured bronze in the women’s section, stating that their achievements reflect “India’s growing dominance in global chess”.
Born on Sept 3, 2003, Arjun became a grandmaster at the age of 14, completing all three GM norms within just four months. He broke the 2600 rating barrier in 2021 and burst onto the international scene in 2022.
Since then, he has won several top-tier events, contributed to India’s gold medal at the 45th Chess Olympiad, and emerged as the country’s highest-rated player in 2024.
Despite narrowly missing out on the Candidates Tournament twice, Arjun has shown resilience and an upward trajectory. His bronze finish now guarantees him a spot at the pilot tournament of the new Total Chess World Championship Tour in October 2026.
