Defined: Why world No 4 Arjun Erigaisi’s hopes of competing in Candidates 2026 are over

After a unprecedented run all year long, 2024 ended on a disappointing be aware for Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi. The 21-year-old from Warangal had starred in India’s historic marketing campaign within the forty fifth Chess Olympiad in Budapest and had just lately change into the primary Indian because the legendary Viswanathan Anand to realize the coveted 2800 ELO score.

The 12 months, nevertheless, would finish on a heartbreaking be aware for Arjun as he did not qualify for the 2026 Candidates Match.

Why Arjun Erigaisi did not make the reduce for Candidates 2026

Arjun, who at the moment sits on the fourth spot within the FIDE Classical Score forward of world champion D Gukesh,
had arrived in New York Metropolis as one of many favourites for the FIDE World Speedy and Blitz Championships.

Arjun, nevertheless, was offered with a simple activity – he needed to win the ‘Open Speedy’ Championship that obtained underway on Thursday, 26 December and got here to a conclusion on Sunday. And doing that was far simpler mentioned than performed, given the likes of Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura have been competing on the occasion.

The trail for Arjun to qualify for the Candidates was by means of FIDE Circuit Score factors, the place he was
trailing world No 2 Fabiano Caruana by simply six factors. And for him to eclipse the Italian-American GM, Arjun needed to win the Speedy occasion in Wall Avenue, New York Metropolis – both as the only chief or by successful the tie breaks after ending within the joint-lead.

🇺🇸 @FabianoCaruana has formally secured his spot within the subsequent #FIDECandidates match by means of the #FIDECircuit! ♟️ 👏 🔥

Mathematically, there isn’t a state of affairs by which his closest pursuer, Arjun Erigaisi, can catch as much as him on the FIDE Circuit leaderboard, together with on the… pic.twitter.com/1RB9L2rDlt

— Worldwide Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) December 30, 2024

Regardless of starting his marketing campaign with
4 wins in 5 rounds on Day 1,
Arjun ended up ending on 9 factors, tied with 5 different gamers. Russia’s Volodar Murzin received the Speedy title after ending as the only chief with 10 factors whereas compatriots Alexander Grischuk and Ian Nepomniachtchi completed with 9.5 factors every.

On account of Erigaisi’s lack of ability to win the fast title within the ‘Large Apple’, Caruana grew to become the primary participant to qualify for the 2026 Candidates.

The Candidates Match incorporates a complete of seven gamers, comprising the highest three from the Chess World Cup, two from FIDE Grand Swiss and the top-ranked participant within the Circuit Score.

The final spot is awarded to the participant with the very best score common between the months of August and January earlier than the match – which takes place within the first half of an even-numbered 12 months.