Arjun Erigaisi is the top ranked Indian player in the world rankings. (PHOTO: GCL)
Earlier this month, Arjun Erigaisi stepped on Mount 2800, touching the elusive classical ratings barrier in chess that only 16 grandmasters have touched in history.
At 21 years of age, Arjun Erigaisi is one of the youngest players to have achieved the feat which led everyone from five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand to India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing their delight at the young Indian prodigy scaling new heights.
For Arjun Erigaisi, however, going past the 2800 rating points milestone was just an “added bonus” to winning the game for his club, Team Alkaloid, by defeating Dmitry Andreikin in the 5th round of the European Chess Club Cup. Arjun says that his mind was focussed on winning his battle with Andreikin and how that could sway the overall clash between the two clubs.
“The satisfaction was there after winning. But that was because I won that game against a strong player, not because of reaching 2800. I did have an idea that if I won, I would cross 2800. But at that point, it wasn’t on my mind… I thought if I win my game, the overall match is just over. So, yeah, I was quite happy. And 2800 was like an added bonus,” shrugs Arjun Erigaisi.
For the rest of the chess world, there are things that matter a lot. Like crossing 2800. Or rising to World No 3. Arjun Erigaisi has been acquainted with both of those feats, and has reacted with a half-shrug. He’s not dismissing the status of those achievements. But since his quest to make it to the Candidates fell short by a few feet earlier this year, he’s disassociated with trappings such as rankings and ratings.
“They do feel good. But they don’t matter that much. Last year, if it happened, I would be very happy. And if I fell behind, for example, I would be very sad. There would be a clear change of emotions. That’s no longer the case. It feels good if it happens. But even if it doesn’t happen, I’m still happy,” Arjun Erigaisi tells The Indian Express.
Is there one target that does matter for Arjun Erigaisi? Becoming world no 1? Reaching 2850? Or 2900? For the record, the highest rating ever achieved by a chess player in classical format is 2882, scaled by Magnus Carlsen a decade ago.
“Getting to 2850 or 2900, I haven’t thought of. But if that happens, then maybe that would actually feel very good,” he says before he slips in another bold ambition on his mental vision board: To become stronger than Magnus. Or beat Magnus in a long match.
“Maybe beat him in a two-game match or a four-game match. It can happen. Something as long as the Speed Chess Championship match. Then I was fighting well. But because it’s such a long match. Generally, in such long matches, the stronger player takes over. I ended up losing the match. But if I beat him in such a long match, then that would make me feel very, very happy,” smiles Arjun Erigaisi.
