Arjun Erigaisi crushes Maxime Vachier-Lagrave to win WR Chess Masters

Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi secured WR Chess masters title after defeating Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France in Armddon game following two draws in Classical chess during final.

Arjun displayed great form and precision throughout event to bag winner’s prize of 20000 Euros. He defeated his friend R Praggnanandhaa in semifinals of kck out event before eventually getting past Vachier-Lagrave.

16-player tournament saw Arjun scoring a 2-0 victory over Sivananda Bodhana of England who is kwn to be youngest ever to play in Chess Olympi for her country.

Fellow Indian Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi also fell to Arjun, who won second game in two-games mini-match by 1.5-0.5 margin.

Against Praggnanandhaa in semis, Arjun took an early le by winning first game as white and did well to draw second game to win match 1.5-0.5.

In final, Vachier-Lagrave put up stiff resistance against World number four Indian but eventually crumbled in Armddon.

first game ended in an easy draw for Arjun as black, while second game featured wild complex play out of a Sicilian Najdorf opening where Indian played white.

dust subsided on 21st move leing to a tricky endgame post queen tre and game was drawn.

Vachier-Lagrave h 10 minutes on his clock with white pieces in finale against Arjun’s 6 minutes and 58 seconds. However, as is law, Frenchman needed a win.

Arjun navigated opening well despite less time out of a Petroff defense and reached a balanced position.

Vachier-Lagrave sacrificed two mir pieces for a rook to make some threats around Arjun’s King but Indian remained on guard. game could have been a draw through repetition but that would have won match for Arjun anyway.

Queens were tred but Arjun was never in trouble as Vachier-Lagrave fought in vain for 69 moves before calling it a day.

With this victory, Arjun moved closer to coveted 2800 ELO rating mark, though he will need to wait for his next event to achieve it.