"I realized I had the potential to be a world champion" - GM Arjun Erigaisi opens up about his journey, online chess and anonymous accounts
Last Sunday (September 22), at the 45th Chess Olympiad, the world witnessed the crowning of a new superpower in chess. India achieved the rare feat of bagging gold medals across both the Open as well as the Women's category.
While the accomplishment itself is monumental, what makes it even more special is the domineering fashion in which it was acheived. In the Open Category, in particular, the Indian team was peerless. So much so, that the gold was confirmed even before the final round began.
India secured 21 out of a total possible 22 match points. The impregnability of the first-choice team was such that the reserve player Harikrishna Pentala - despite being the most experienced of the lot - got the chance to feature in just three out of 11 rounds.
Teenage prodigies D. Gukesh and R. Praggnanandhaa have already become bonafide superstars of Indian chess, while Vidith Gujrathi enjoys an ardent fan following which is perhaps augmented due to his social media presence and live chess streams. On the other hand, the more reserved Arjun Erigaisi is perhaps the most understated player of the team.
Arjun, 21, is currently the highest ranked Indian chess player. Even at the Chess Olympiad, Arjun was pivotal to India's success. He was the only player to play all the rounds and finished with 10 game points in 11 matches. Along with the team medal, Arjun also bagged an individual gold for having the highest performance rating on the third board.
At the recent felicitation program organized by All India Chess Federation in New Delhi, Team Sportskeeda had the pleasure to have an exclusive chat with this "silent assassin". During the conversation, Arjun reiterated his love for the game and also shared his thoughts about online chess.
Here are some excerpts from the interview:-
Q: Can you take us back to how your journey started in the field of chess? What sparked your interest and when did you start playing professionally?
GM Arjun Erigaisi: First time I started was when I was 8. It was obviously as a hobby and not professionally. That was when my parents enrolled me in many things like chess, swimming, skating etc. and I liked chess the most out of all. That’s why I kept giving more and more time to chess. And professionally, I can only say in 2021.
Q: So, it has been only 3-4 years since you have been playing chess professionally. What made you think that you could pursue it as a career?
GM Arjun Erigaisi: I kind of understood that I was good at it but I wasn’t confident. But in 2021, in a tournament against some very top players, I managed to do very well. That gave me a lot of confidence. I realized that I had the potential to be a world champion or become a top-5 player.
Q: How much do you play online and how much do you play over the board?
GM Arjun Erigaisi: Back in the day, I used to play online a lot. Even today, when I get the time, I play online from my anonymous accounts.
Q: So, how is playing online and playing over the board different when it comes to playing professionally?
GM Arjun Erigaisi: Playing on the board is nice. You get to see your opponent, the facial expressions. Many of them actually express something. Also moving pieces on the board is something we are all used to. Playing online could feel a bit weird. But also it is more convenient, in the sense that you don’t have to travel abroad and you get your home food and you can just play from the comfort of your home. Both have their perks.
Q: A lot of young players use online resources to learn chess. How much can a person learn online and how much does professional coaching play a part in becoming a player like you?
GM Arjun Erigaisi: I think online chess is definitely a very good resource to use. I would still recommend having a coach because then you actually have someone guiding you.
Q: How does a coach help you if you can tell in detail?
GM Arjun Erigaisi: A coach can set you in a direction. If you’re playing online, you are unable to analyze the game, he can help you analyze the game and tell you what kind of mistakes you are making and to avoid them. Having someone to guide you is definitely helpful.
Arjun Erigaisi's rise to the top has been meteoric. At 21, he has already realized his dream of being among the top 5 players in the world and now has a team gold in an event where more than 190 countries participated. Perhaps, the day is not far when we actually see him become the individual world champion.