Arjun Erigaisi's 2025 season has been filled with highs and lows, but the Indian chess prodigy is gearing up for major upcoming events. After a turbulent Tata Masters campaign in Wijk aan Zee—where he struggled early but finished strong with victories over title contenders Nodirbek Abdusattorov and reigning world champion D Gukesh—he is now preparing for his debut at the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour in Paris this April.
Later this year, Erigaisi will also participate in the ESports World Cup, marking a significant milestone in his career. His involvement in the event comes after signing with Gen.G, a prominent esports organization.
Chess Meets Esports: A New Era for the Game
Discussing his entry into esports chess, Erigaisi acknowledged its potential to attract a new audience. “Yeah, definitely. I think there are a lot of people who don’t follow other sports but follow esports a lot. So, I think for all of them, this is a chance to look at chess, which is very good for the sport. So that way, it definitely opens new doors,” he told Firstpost.
He emphasized the uniqueness of chess as a game that can be played both physically and digitally, something rare in the world of competitive sports. “Chess can be played not just as a physical over-the-board sport but also as an e-sport, and this is very unique to just chess—no other sport can be played that way. So, I’m glad this is happening, and I hope it will become huge and open many doors.”
Carlsen and Nakamura’s Influence
Erigaisi credited chess legends Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura for igniting his interest in esports chess. “So, first I got to know about the ESports World Cup when Magnus and Hikaru spoke about it towards the end of last year. Okay. Then I checked the format and things related to that, and that excited me. And then Gen.G approached my team, and because I was already excited about it, I was also interested,” he explained.
Expressing his enthusiasm for joining Gen.G, Erigaisi added, “We had a few discussions and then decided that I’ll play for them, and I’m so glad I made that decision. Also, they are the champions in League of Legends, and this is their first time with chess, and I’m so glad that they chose me. I’ll try my best to make them proud.”
Online Chess and Cheating Concerns
With online chess becoming increasingly popular, concerns over cheating have resurfaced—especially after Carlsen’s discussion on the Joe Rogan Podcast regarding his controversy with American GM Hans Niemann.
Erigaisi acknowledged the advantages and challenges of online play. “With online, there is this benefit of just sitting at home and playing. That’s always nice when you can just be home and play. But also, there are other factors, like cheating, which is a bigger concern.”
He also pointed out technical issues that can impact performance, such as internet latency and hardware disparities. “There’s also the mouse factor. Some people can play very fast with their mouse, and not all can do that,” he noted. “And also, internet connection. I haven’t faced any disconnections as such, but it’s definitely the case that the servers in, at least for Chess.com, are better in the US. So when you play from the US, your move reaches the server faster. You lose less time.”
India’s Top Chess Player
Currently ranked World No. 5, Erigaisi momentarily lost his India No. 1 ranking to Gukesh during the Tata Masters. However, with his growing international recognition and major upcoming events, he remains one of India's brightest chess talents.
His participation in the ESports World Cup could mark a turning point in chess history, bringing the sport closer to mainstream esports audiences while opening new opportunities for professional players in the digital era.