Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Indian chess grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi for winning the bronze medal at the FIDE World Blitz Chess Championship held in Doha, hailing his achievement as another proud moment for India in the global chess arena.
Erigaisi’s podium finish in the Blitz Championship comes shortly after his bronze medal win at the FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship, underlining his consistent performance at the highest level of international chess.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister praised the 22-year-old grandmaster’s dedication and skill. “India’s strides in chess continue! Congratulations to Arjun Erigaisi for winning the Bronze at the FIDE World Blitz Chess Championship in Doha, following his bronze medal in FIDE Rapid Chess Championship recently. His skills, patience and passion are exemplary. His successes will continue to inspire our youth. My best wishes to him,” PM Modi said.
Erigaisi delivered an impressive performance during the Blitz Championship, accumulating 14.5 points in the first 18 rounds, with 12 wins, five draws and just one loss, to qualify for the four-player knockout stage. He, however, fell short in the semifinal against Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov, settling for a bronze medal.
Earlier, at the 2025 FIDE World Rapid Championship in Doha, Erigaisi clinched his maiden bronze medal after scoring 9.5 points in the 13-round Swiss-format tournament. With this achievement, he became only the second Indian male player, after legendary grandmaster Viswanathan Anand, to secure a podium finish at the World Rapid Championship.
Arjun Erigaisi’s back-to-back podium finishes have reinforced India’s growing stature in world chess and inspired a new generation of young players across the country.
(With ANI inputs)
