Arjun Erigaisi rebounded from his heartbreak on the FIDE World Cup by profitable the Jerusalem Masters event with a victory over five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand within the remaining. Anand had taken down two-time World Championship contender Ian Nepomniachtchi within the semi-final whereas Arjun had defeated veteran Peter Svidler within the final 4.
“It wasn’t straightforward. There have been numerous challenges. My high quality wasn’t the most effective. I’m simply glad I managed to make it by way of. In the present day, each the matches (versus Svidler after which Anand) had been very tense,” Arjun informed the organisers in an interview after profitable the Jerusalem Masters title. “Within the first sport we each missed our probabilities. However in blitz, I feel I performed fairly effectively.”
The victory is a few comfort for Arjun, who had not too long ago been defeated within the quarter-finals of the FIDE World Cup in Goa, which had meant that for the second time in a row, the teen from Warangal would miss out on competing within the prestigious Candidates event, which has been Arjun’s ambition for the final two World Championship cycles.
Arjun was overwhelmed by China’s Wei Yi within the quarter-finals at Goa, which was the Indian’s second loss within the quarter-final stage of a World Cup. In 2023, he had been defeated by good pal Praggnanandhaa.
Arjun and Anand had performed out attracts within the two speedy video games, which then necessitated that the pair settle the matter over two blitz video games. There, the 22-year-old gained the primary sport earlier than accepting a draw within the second. The title additionally means Arjun pockets a prize pool price $55,000 (roughly Rs 50 lakh).
Anand, who’s semi-retired, had handed a defeat to Nepo to point that he was nonetheless not that removed from his heydays.
Each Anand and Arjun had certified for the semi remaining after ending within the high 4 spots in a 12-man spherical robin occasion. Whereas Svidler had topped the preliminary round-robin stage with an 8/11 efficiency, Anand and Arjun had scored 7.5/11 every to complete joint second together with Nepomniachtchi.