Top Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi delivered a sensational performance at the FIDE World Blitz Championship 2025 in Doha, stunning reigning champion Magnus Carlsen and elite Grandmaster Nodirbek Abdusattorov to emerge as a joint leader with nine points after 11 rounds on Monday. With two rounds still left on Day 1, the competition remains wide open, especially with Carlsen—who is eyeing his ninth Blitz title after securing his sixth Rapid crown on Sunday—known for his incredible comeback spirit.
Currently, Erigaisi shares the top position with French Grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, while Daniil Dubov, Fabiano Caruana, and Yu Yangyi follow closely with 8.5 points. A group of eight players, including Carlsen, top contender Alireza Firouzja, and India’s Sunilduth Narayanan, are tied on 8 points. Meanwhile, India’s young stars R Praggnanandhaa and reigning world classical champion D Gukesh are on 7.5 points, positioned in a large 21-player cluster at the 14th spot.
A total of 13 rounds are scheduled on the opening day of the 19-round Open category, ensuring plenty of shifts on the leaderboard. Erigaisi, fresh from his bronze medal triumph in the Rapid format, showcased aggressive and pragmatic gameplay, registering eight wins, two draws, and one loss so far. His most remarkable moment came in Round 9, where he defeated Carlsen with Black pieces, followed by another impressive victory over Abdusattorov in Round 10, briefly enjoying a half-point advantage at the top. A draw with Fabiano Caruana in Round 11 saw him share the lead again.
Erigaisi’s recent form against Carlsen has been particularly noteworthy, having defeated the Norwegian earlier this year in Norway Chess (classical format) and now again in blitz.
The final stretch of the tournament, comprising Rounds 14 to 19, will be played on Tuesday. The top four players will advance to the semifinals, culminating in a thrilling final showdown.
Women’s Blitz: Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh Struggle to Maintain Momentum
In the women’s section, former World Rapid Champion Koneru Humpy could not replicate her bronze-winning brilliance from Sunday. She slipped to joint 61st position after 10 rounds, finishing Day 1 with five points while enduring five losses. Teenage chess sensation and Women’s World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh fared slightly better, ending the day in joint 30th place with six points. Grandmasters D Harika and R Vaishali stand at 5.5 points.
In a surprising twist, Dutch International Master Eline Roebers leads the women’s blitz standings with 8.5/10 points, while recent Women’s World Rapid Champion Aleksandra Goryachkina remains close behind in joint second with eight points. The women’s event will also conclude on Tuesday, after five additional rounds, followed by the semifinals and final featuring the top four players.