Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi clinched the 2024 WR Chess Masters Cup by defeating French Grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in a tense Armageddon match. With this triumph, Arjun bagged a top prize of €20,000 (approximately Rs 18 lakh) and earned 27.84 FIDE Circuit points.
Narrow miss for FIDE 2800 Rating Milestone
Despite his victory, Arjun Erigaisi narrowly missed the chance to break the coveted 2800 FIDE rating barrier, a goal he had been aiming for.
The 2800 milestone eluded him after two consecutive draws in the classical games against Vachier-Lagrave, leaving him just short of the mark. To achieve this milestone, Arjun needed to secure a win in the classical format on the final day of the tournament.
Strategic play in Classical Games for Arjun Erigaisi
In their first classical game, Arjun, playing with the Black pieces, managed to equalise early and was never in any significant trouble. The second game saw more action, with Arjun playing with the White pieces and creating a complex position.
Although he held a slight advantage, Vachier-Lagrave found effective counterplay to neutralise the threat. Recognising the shifting dynamics of the game, Arjun wisely chose to settle for a draw rather than take unnecessary risks.
Reflecting on his strategy, Arjun remarked, “Basically, I thought I should finish it off in classical,” a clear sign of his intent to win without relying on Armageddon.
Impressive Armageddon performance by Arjun
In the Armageddon game, Arjun had 6 minutes and 58 seconds on the clock while Vachier-Lagrave had 10 minutes. Despite the time disadvantage, Arjun demonstrated impeccable control with the Black pieces, playing quickly and making precise decisions throughout.
Vachier-Lagrave, needing to win, was forced to push for an aggressive approach, which gave Arjun the opportunity to seize the advantage. He capitalised on this, winning the game and securing the tournament title.
Road to 2024 WR Chess Masters Cup
Throughout the tournament, Arjun exhibited remarkable form, defeating Indian compatriots Vidit Gujrathi and R Praggnanandhaa in earlier rounds.
These crucial victories brought him closer to the 2800 rating mark and solidified his position among the world’s chess elite. Arjun, now the World No. 4 with a live rating of 2796.1, continues to showcase his potential on the global stage.
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