Arjun Erigaisi Enters Chess Elite, Becomes India’s Second 2800 Elo Grandmaster

Arjun Erigaisi– The 21-year-old Grandmaster from India secures his place in history, achieving World No. 3 and joining the ranks of chess legends.

Key Highlights

Historic Elo Milestone: Arjun Erigaisi becomes the second Indian to cross 2800 Elo, reaching World No. 3.
Outstanding Form: Arjun’s recent victories, including the WR Chess Masters title and a gold medal at the 2024 Chess Olympiad, highlight his rapid rise.
Among Chess Legends: With his new rating, Arjun joins an elite group with icons like Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand.

Arjun’s Historic Leap in Elo Ratings

In an extraordinary display of skill and consistency, Arjun Erigaisi has become the second Indian and youngest from the country to cross the coveted 2800 Elo rating mark. His victory over Russian Grandmaster Dmitry Andreikin in the fifth round of the European Chess Club Cup 2024 catapulted him to a live rating of 2802.1, placing him third in the world. This remarkable accomplishment makes him only the 16th player in chess history to breach the 2800 barrier, following in the footsteps of Indian chess icon Viswanathan Anand, who last crossed this threshold in 2008.

Second Indian to Cross 2800 Elo, Arjun Secures World No. 3 Spot.

Young, Driven, and Unstoppable

Representing Team Alkaloid, the 21-year-old Arjun has continued to impress in recent months with a series of stellar performances. Just last week, he narrowly missed the 2800 mark but gained critical momentum after securing the WR Chess Masters title.

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He outperformed top-tier competitors, including French GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, in a high-stakes Armageddon tiebreaker to claim victory. His achievements extend beyond individual tournaments; Arjun was also instrumental in India’s recent gold medal win at the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest.

Joining the Hall of Fame: Top 15 Elo Ratings of All Time

By crossing 2800, Arjun Erigaisi now stands among the greats. He’s ranked on the all-time highest Elo list alongside chess icons like Magnus Carlsen, Garry Kasparov, and Anand. Here’s a glimpse at the top 15 in history:

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Magnus Carlsen (Norway) – 2882
Garry Kasparov (Russia) – 2851
Fabiano Caruana (USA) – 2844
Levon Aronian (Armenia) – 2830
Wesley So (USA) – 2822
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) – 2820
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France) – 2819
Viswanathan Anand (India) – 2817
Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) – 2817
Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria) – 2816
Hikaru Nakamura (USA) – 2816
Ding Liren (China) – 2816
Alexander Grischuk (Russia) – 2810
Alireza Firouzja (France) – 2804
Arjun Erigaisi (India) – 2802.1

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What is Elo Rating and Why Is 2800 So Significant?

The Elo rating system, in use by FIDE since 1970, measures the relative skill level of chess players. Ratings adjust after each match, with players gaining or losing points based on game outcomes. Achieving a 2800 rating is exceptionally rare and is seen as a benchmark of extraordinary skill and consistency, showcasing a player’s ability to excel among the world’s best. Only the very top chess masters have crossed this threshold, marking Arjun’s entry into an elite global club.

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Arjun’s Meteoric Rise: A Legacy in the Making

Arjun’s climb has been nothing short of meteoric; he’s ascended from 30th in global rankings to World No. 3 within a year, solidifying his status as one of India’s brightest chess stars. With every match, he continues to honor and expand India’s chess legacy, inspired by his legendary predecessor, Anand.