Erigaisi strikes gold, outplays Anand to lift Jerusalem Masters crown

Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi delivered one of the biggest wins of his career, defeating five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand in an all-Indian summit clash to clinch the Jerusalem Masters title on Wednesday.

The final began with two closely fought rapid games that ended in draws. But Erigaisi shifted gears in the blitz tie-breaks, striking first with the white pieces to take control of the match. The 22-year-old even held a winning position in the second blitz game before choosing a safe draw, sealing the contest 2.5-1.5.

Reflecting on his triumph, Arjun admitted the journey through the event was anything but smooth. “It wasn’t easy. There were a lot of challenges. My quality wasn’t the best. I’m just glad I managed to make it through,” he said after the win. Calling both the matches, the semifinal against Peter Svidler and the final against Anand, “very tense,” he added that blitz was where he felt he performed at his best.

Arjun also recalled a moment of concern in the opening game of the final, where he lost his advantage with the white pieces. “I knew I was winning and I knew I messed it. I was definitely worried, but all I had to do was fight back,” he said.

After Anand resigned, the two shared a brief moment of cordial conversation before Anand left the stage. Erigaisi then turned to the cameras, striking a celebratory pose for the official winner’s photograph.

Erigaisi earned USD 55,000 (around ₹46 lakh) for the title, while Anand took home USD 35,000 (around ₹29 lakh) as runner-up.

The road to the final saw Arjun overcoming Russian veteran Peter Svidler in the semifinals, while Anand displayed his class by defeating reigning World Blitz champion Ian Nepomniachtchi. In the third-place playoff, Svidler prevailed over Nepomniachtchi 2.5-1.5, securing third place.

The top four finalists’ FIDE classical ratings were: Erigaisi 2775, Anand 2743, Svidler 2682, and Nepomniachtchi 2723, highlighting the competitive strength of the field.

The Jerusalem Masters, a closed 12-player invitational round-robin event, featured the top four advancing to a playoff stage, one in which India’s rising star ultimately shone the brightest.