Arjun Erigaisi is just the second Indian male participant after the legendary Viswanathan Anand to win a World Blitz medal within the ‘Open class’.
IMAGE: Arjun Erigaisi misplaced to Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov within the semi-finals of the World Blitz Championship, in Doha, on Tuesday. {Photograph}: Anna Shtourman/FIDE
World No 1 Magnus Carlsen confirmed his endgame genius but once more so as to add a record-extending ninth world Blitz title to the Speedy gold medal he received two days again, however Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi suffered a large meltdown within the semi-final to accept a bronze within the World Blitz Championship, in Doha, on Tuesday.
Carlsen refused to simply accept a draw within the title showdown in opposition to younger Uzbek GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov and got here up with a singular pawn transfer out of nowhere within the fourth recreation of the title conflict to win 2.5-1.5 and lengthen his reign in Blitz.
After the primary three video games, each the gamers had been tied at 1.5 factors every.
The victory was all of the extra candy and fulfilling for the Norwegian after a string of losses within the qualifying (Swiss spherical) the place he actually struggled to safe a spot within the knockout semis.
A attract Spherical 19 in opposition to Abdusattorov noticed each Carlsen (13.5 factors) and the Uzbek (13 factors) safe the final two slots within the semi-finals on Tuesday behind sole chief Erigaisi (15 factors) and American GM Fabiano Caruana (14 factors).
Carlsen then went on to beat Caruana 3-1 to safe a spot within the ultimate, whereas an impeccable Abdusattorov inflicted a shattering 2.5-0.5 semi-final defeat on Erigaisi, because the Indian settled for a second bronze, after taking the third-podium spot in Speedy on Sunday.
Nonetheless, the 2 bronze medals is a outstanding achievement for the 22-year-old Erigaisi, who will return residence extra resolute.
The achievement additionally made Erigaisi solely the second Indian male participant after the legendary Viswanathan Anand to win a World Blitz medal within the ‘Open class’.
Earlier, Erigaisi, after gorgeous the likes of Carlsen and Abdusattorov to emerge sole chief with 10 factors from 13 video games, went by the remaining six rounds on Tuesday with steely resolve.
He received 4 and drew two to stay sole chief with 15 factors to safe a spot within the semi-finals.
The Indian was drawn in opposition to 2021 World Speedy champion Abdusattorov, who secured a spot within the last-four by the pores and skin of the enamel, nudging Frenchman Maxime Vachier-Lagrave to fifth spot on ‘finest tie-break’ rule after each the Grandmasters had ended on 13 factors every.
With Erigaisi in gorgeous kind and having the benefit of beating Abdusattorov on Monday, the Indian was anticipated to go full steam.
However issues took a special and tough flip for Erigaisi. He couldn’t convert the benefit with white within the opening recreation, shedding in 47 strikes to be 0-1 down.
A resurgent Abdusattorov turned issues decisively his means within the second recreation by enjoying Rc5′ on the seventy fifth transfer and ending the sport in 83 strikes.
With the Uzbek needing solely half-a-point to seal his place within the ultimate, Abdusattorov settled for a fast draw with black items after simply 33 strikes regardless of being in a successful place, rendering the fourth recreation redundant.
