In a stunning display of resilience and tactical ingenuity, India's top-ranked chess grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi launched the Blitz segment of the 2026 Tata Steel Chess India tournament with a devastating five-win streak, outmaneuvering legends like Viswanathan Anand and China's Wei Yi in Kolkata. The event, held at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium, saw the player described by his mother as a "very calm boy" transform into a relentless force, swindling victories from the jaws of defeat in the final seconds.
A Blitzkrieg Start in the City of Joy
Fresh from a third-place finish in the Rapid event, Arjun Erigaisi carried no baggage into the fast-paced Blitz format on Saturday, January 10, 2026. What followed was a masterclass in speed chess endurance. He dismantled five opponents in a row, with several wins materializing from seemingly lost positions at the literal last moment. This explosive start set the tone for a dramatic day of chess in Kolkata.
His first victim set the precedent for the day. Facing the formidable Russian teenager and 2024 World Rapid Champion, Volodar Murzin, Arjun was pushed to the brink. After maintaining equality for 51 moves, he found himself in a precarious spot, with both players down to mere seconds on their clocks. Murzin had a winning sequence but failed to find it under extreme time pressure. A pawn down, Arjun clawed back, steering the game toward a draw by perpetual checks. Then, with only two seconds left, Murzin blundered, missing a mate-in-six. Arjun, the double bronze medallist from the 2025 World Rapid and Blitz in Doha, pounced with just six seconds remaining to deliver a rare board checkmate.
Outwitting Giants: Settling Scores and Sending Messages
The momentum from this great escape fueled Arjun's next conquest, which carried deep personal satisfaction. Just weeks prior, China's top player, Wei Yi, had defeated him in a World Cup quarterfinal tiebreak in Goa, shattering his dream of a Candidates Tournament spot. In Kolkata, Arjun turned the tables. He outwitted Wei Yi in the Blitz, securing a 2–0 scoreline against him for the entire event, having also beaten him in the Rapid segment. This victory was more than just points; it was a clear message that the Goa loss was an aberration and his hunger for top-level success was undiminished.
The script of dramatic turnarounds continued against the winner of the Rapid segment, Nihal Sarin. Playing with emotional resolve following his grandfather's recent passing, Nihal gave Arjun no quarter for 50 moves in a balanced endgame. However, as time dwindled, Arjun's creative genius found an opening when Nihal misplaced his knight. The piece was trapped and lost, forcing Nihal's resignation and handing Arjun his third straight win.
The Anand Conquest and the "Manufacturing of Luck"
Arjun's most symbolic victory came against the icon of Indian chess, five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand. Having lost to Arjun in the Jerusalem Masters final and again in the Rapid portion, Anand was determined to halt the youngster's charge. In a Ruy Lopez game drifting toward a draw, Arjun managed to provoke a critical mistake from the legend. Anand was forced to resign just two moves later, succumbing to Arjun's relentless pressure for the third time in recent encounters.
This remarkable ability to salvage lost causes prompted high praise from his peers. Nihal Sarin, a day earlier, had pinpointed Arjun's unique skill. "It's massive… the manufacturing of luck itself is a massive skill. Arjun is one of the very best in the world, absolutely the best, when it comes to hanging on and posing as many practical problems as possible," Nihal stated. He emphasized that Arjun's repeated escapes are not mere luck but a testament to his extraordinary fighting spirit and skill.
Arjun's fifth consecutive win came against Aravindh Chithambaram, who offered little resistance. The streak, however, was finally snapped in the sixth round by American-Filipino grandmaster Wesley So, who broke through Arjun's defenses in a clean Queen's Gambit Declined game. Bolstered by this, Hans Moke Niemann held Arjun to a draw, and Praggnanandhaa capitalized on his fading momentum to hand him a second loss. Despite a final-round victory over Vidit Gujrathi, Wesley So finished half a point ahead. Arjun Erigaisi concluded the Blitz event in a strong second place with 6.5 points, his blistering start leaving an indelible mark on the tournament.
