Arjun Erigaisi’s Winless Streak Continues at Tata Steel
Arjun Erigaisi (pictured above | Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit) , one of India’s brightest chess talents, is off to a challenging start in 2025, continuing his winless run (as of writing this article after round 5) at the prestigious Tata Steel Chess Tournament in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands. He entered the event with a rating of 2801 and as the 2nd seed. It might be surprising for many that this is one of Arjun’s first appearances in an elite invitational tournament. Which also explains why the 21-year-old grandmaster has struggled to find his form, suffering back-to-back defeats and dropping 20 valuable rating points.
A Series of Setbacks for Arjun Erigasi at Tata Steel Chess 2025 :
Round 1: Harikrishna Outmaneuvers Arjun in a Tactical Sicilian
Arjun, playing black, entered the Sicilian Defense against Harikrishna. The game featured sharp and complex middlegame tactics, with Arjun sacrificing material for counterplay. However, Harikrishna maintained a steady edge with precise moves, converting his material advantage into a winning endgame. Despite Arjun’s active attempts to create counterplay, Harikrishna’s accurate calculation secured him a victory in this tense opening round.
Round 2: Strategic Balance Leads to Draw Between Arjun and Anish Giri
Arjun, with the white pieces, opted for the positional 5. Be2 against the Najdorf. Both players showcased deep preparation, with Giri maintaining equality in a dynamic pawn structure. Arjun gained some activity in the middlegame but was unable to capitalize on it. After a series of exchanges, the position simplified into a balanced endgame, and the game concluded with a three-fold repitition in a complex rook+ knight endgame.
Round 3: Decisive Kingside Attack by Praggnanandhaa
Contrary to Arjun’s agressive style, he employed a solid line against the Catalan. The queens got traded quite early in the game. Praggnanandhaa’s showed precise positional play. He targeted Arjun’s queenside weaknesses and dominated the endgame. Arjun generated counterplay on the kingside, which look he was almost turning tables around. However, Praggnanandhaa’s neutralized the attack and won the game.
Round 4: The Fedoseev Defeat
In Round 4, Arjun faced Vladimir Fedoseev and seemed poised to secure a crucial victory. Playing with the white pieces, he built up a promising position by the mid-game. However, a costly two-move blunder turned the tables.
On move 26, Arjun captured Fedoseev’s bishop with his own light-squared bishop (26.Bxf5) instead of using his knight (26.Nxf5), missing a key tactical opportunity. Before making his 27th move, if he had done a blunder check he would have found hope for recovery, but the subsequent 27.Nxf5 instead of the corrective 27.Re1 sealed his fate. Fedoseev capitalized on the error by forking Arjun’s rook, clinching victory and pushing Arjun further into the depths of his slump.
Round 5: Stalemate of Ideas Between Arjun and Mendonca
In this game, Arjun employed the Blumenfeld Gambit. This gambit is seen rarely nowadays, being a 2800 player takes a lot of courage to play this somewhat dubious opening. Mendonca’s aggressive play on the queenside was met with resourceful defense by Arjun, who managed to create counter-threats. Despite both players striving for an advantage, the position remained dynmaically balanced, and after a long maneuvering phase, the game ended in a repetition of moves, resulting in a draw.
Tata Steel Masters: A Tough Battleground
The Tata Steel Chess Tournament has historically been a proving ground for elite players, but for Arjun, it has turned into a venue of recurring struggles. After winning the 2022 Challengers section with an impressive 10.5/13, Arjun secured a spot in the Masters section in 2023. However, he failed to win a single game that year and is now enduring a similar fate in 2025.
Arjun’s 2025 campaign began with a Round 1 loss to compatriot Pentala Harikrishna. He then drew against Anish Giri in Round 2 and lost to R Praggnanandhaa in Round 3. The Round 4 defeat to Fedoseev has cost him 19 rating points, a significant dip early in the year.
Gukesh tops FIDE rankings, dethrones Erigaisi. Praggnanandhaa Leads; Harikrishna Impresses
While Arjun battles to rediscover his form, other Indian players have shown exceptional performances.
World chess champion Gukesh D has claimed the top spot as India’s number one chess player in the live ratings. His victory against Vincent Keymer in the Masters section of the Tata Steel Chess tournament in Wijk aan Zee boosted his Elo rating to 2784.0, surpassing Arjun Erigaisi’s 2779.5.
R Praggnanandhaa emerged as the sole leader after four rounds, delivering strong results, including a win against Arjun.
Experienced Grandmaster Pentala Harikrishna, too, has impressed with two victories, including a Round 4 triumph against Dutch GM Max Warmerdam. Harikrishna now positions himself as a contender in the tournament standings.
Historical Context: A Rollercoaster Career
Arjun Erigaisi’s chess journey has been a mix of meteoric rises and unforeseen challenges. His victory at Tata Steel Challengers 2022 marked a career highlight, followed by consistent performances in various international tournaments. However, his inability to break through in the Masters section remains a glaring void in his otherwise stellar record.
What Lies Ahead for Arjun Erigasi Tata Steel 2025?
Despite his rough start, Arjun still has opportunities to turn his tournament around. With eight rounds remaining, he can aim to stabilize his form, regain confidence, and possibly notch a few wins.
More broadly, the young grandmaster will need to focus on minimizing errors under pressure and rediscovering the form that once made him one of India’s most promising chess stars.
Is this a Wake-Up Call?
Arjun Erigaisi Tata Steel 2025 performance serve as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of chess and the immense mental fortitude required to compete at the highest level. While his recent results have been disappointing, Arjun has the talent and resilience to bounce back.
As the tournament progresses, Indian chess enthusiasts will eagerly watch how Arjun navigates the rest of his games at Wijk aan Zee.
Stay tuned to ChessATC for the latest updates, game analysis, and insights from the Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2025.
