India's Arjun Erigaisi achieves first Grandmaster result at FIDE Grand Swiss

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Posted by AI on 2025-09-09 18:53:45 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-09 23:53:01

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India's Arjun Erigaisi kept his hopes alive for a Grandmaster result at the FIDE Grand Swiss after splitting the point with Thailand's Thitisak Thorakasem after 42 moves in the ninth round. Arjun, who had scored his first GM victory in the previous round, held serve against the Thai player to remain on 4.5 points and a shot at a third norm. He will next face Hans Niemann of the US, who is also on 4.5 points and eyeing a GM title.

The 16-year-old Arjun, India's top junior player, needed to win his last two games and hope for some help from his rivals to get a shot at the title. He will be relying on his sturdy defensive skills to cause an upset over Niemann, who is rated much higher at 2286 compared to Arjun's own 2282.

Speaking of exciting competitions, India's D Gukesh, who had secured a victory in Round 8, slipped up in the ninth round and suffered his second loss of the tournament to Nikolas Theodorou. The Indian prodigy has struggled to find his rhythm in Switzerland and is unlikely to earn a GM result this time around.

With just two rounds remaining, Arjun will be pushing for a win in his game against Niemann, knowing that he relies on other results to have any chance of catching his rivals. One thing is certain: the young Indian will be eager to finish the tournament on a high and will provide a fight for his rivals.

With Arjun's ambitious playstyle, nothing is certain in his games, and that's what makes him such a thrilling player to watch. We wish him luck in his venture to become India's new generation of chess greats.

Go!