Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi has made history by becoming only the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to breach the prestigious 2800 ELO rating barrier in classical chess. This remarkable achievement places the 21-year-old from Warangal, Telangana, in the global spotlight as he ranks 4th in the world with a rating of 2801, just below Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana. Erigaisi’s achievement is part of his sensational form in 2024, which included an individual gold and a team title at the 45th Chess Olympiad.
Historic Milestone
Arjun’s Ranking: Achieved 2800 ELO rating, ranking 4th globally.
India’s Chess Legacy: Joins Viswanathan Anand, India’s first 2800 ELO-rated player.
Record-Breaking Performance
First Indian Player: Erigaisi is now the second Indian to reach the 2800 barrier.
FIDE Recognition: FIDE announced his entry into the elite group, highlighting his exceptional year.
Top Rivals: Erigaisi ranks just below Magnus Carlsen, who holds the top spot with 2831, and Caruana (2805).
The Road to Success
GM Title at 14: Arjun earned his Grandmaster title at just 14 years, 11 months.
Rise to the Top: In September 2024, Erigaisi became India’s top-rated player, overtaking previous records.
Arjun Erigaisi – Quick Facts
Full Name: Arjun Erigaisi
Date of Birth: 3 January 2003
Place of Birth: Warangal, Telangana, India
Current ELO Rating: 2801 (as of December 2024)
Global Rank: 4th in the world
Notable Achievement: Second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to breach the 2800 ELO rating in classical chess
GM Title: Earned at age 14 years, 11 months
Major Successes
- 2024 Chess Olympiad: Won individual and team gold for India
- September 2024: Became India’s top-rated player
Ranking Details: Below Magnus Carlsen (2831) and Fabiano Caruana (2805) in the FIDE rankings
Notable Rival: D. Gukesh, fellow Indian chess prodigy, ranked 5th with 2783 ELO.