Arjun Erigaisi, a name that has become synonymous with Indian chess, has achieved a significant milestone by becoming India’s No.1 in the latest FIDE rankings, released by the International Chess Federation. This is the best rank for the Indian chess prodigy hailing from Telangana.
Arjun Erigaisi’s impressive achievement
Erigaisi’s journey to the top has been nothing short of remarkable. He is the second Indian, after D Gukesh, to surpass the legendary Vishy Anand in the published FIDE Rating list with a standard rating of 2756. This achievement comes seven months after Gukesh’s feat in September 2023.
Erigaisi’s rise to the top is not just limited to India. He is now ranked ninth in the world, making him one of the top ten chess players globally. This achievement makes him the fourth Indian to make it into the World Top 10, following Vishy Anand, Pentala Harikrishna, and D Gukesh.
Erigaisi’s rise in the rankings was fueled by his performance at two events – the 5th Shengzhen Masters and Bundesliga West. He gained 8.3 Elo rating points from these events, which propelled him from World No.14 to World No.9.
Currently, Erigaisi is participating in the GRENKE Chess Open 2024, where he is performing exceptionally well. With a score of 6/7, he is trailing the three leaders by just half a point.
Erigaisi’s achievement is a proud moment for Indian chess. With four Indians in the top 16, five in the top 25, eight in the top 41, and ten in the top 81, India is emerging as a dominant force in the world of chess.
In terms of the average rating of the top ten players, India is currently ranked No.2, just 11 Elo rating points behind the USA. This gap has slightly increased from 9 to 11 from the March to April 2024 FIDE Rating list.
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