Erigaisi stuns Magnus Carlsen at World Blitz, jumps into joint lead

Arjun Erigaisi delivered one of the biggest moments of the tournament on Monday by defeating world number one Magnus Carlsen and former world rapid champion Nodirbek Abdusattorov to move into joint lead after 11 rounds .

The Indian Grandmaster showed remarkable composure and speed across the board, holding his nerve in high pressure blitz games to finish the day alongside Abdusattorov at the top of the standings. His victory over Carlsen was particularly significant, marking a rare blitz loss for the Norwegian legend and underlining Erigaisi’s growing stature on the global chess stage.

Erigaisi began the day with steady performances before producing back to back statement wins against elite opponents. Against Carlsen, he capitalised on small inaccuracies in a sharp middle game, converting his advantage with precision despite the rapid time controls. He followed it up with another confident win over Abdusattorov, showcasing both tactical sharpness and calm decision making.

Carlsen, meanwhile, remained in close contention despite the setback, as did several other top players in a tightly packed leaderboard. With multiple rounds still to be played, the title race remains wide open, promising an intense finish.

Erigaisi’s performance has added further excitement for Indian chess fans, as the young star continues to challenge the world’s best in one of the fastest and most demanding formats of the game.