This win elevated Erigaisi’s live rating to 2765, placing him just ahead of World Championship challenger Gukesh by one point and one rank.
Defending champion Arjun Erigaisi made a strong start at the 7th Sharjah Masters by defeating Eltaj Safarli in the opening round on Tuesday. This victory propelled Erigaisi to the top of the live rankings, making him India’s new number one player, at least temporarily.
The close proximity of the Sharjah Masters to the Dubai Open, with the centers of the two emirates being only about 10 km apart, allowed players to transition smoothly between the tournaments. However, the Sharjah Chess and Culture Club’s restriction of 20 participants per federation limited the number of Indian players, despite their significant presence in Dubai. As a result, only a select few could participate in the Sharjah Masters. There are nineteen Indian players in the Masters, with a similar number competing in the Challengers (for players under 2500 Elo) and the Futures junior tournament.
Arjun Erigaisi, the top seed and defending champion, demonstrated his prowess by defeating GM Eltaj Safarli from Azerbaijan in a positional battle of the Najdorf Sicilian. His effective use of strong passed pawns highlighted his strategic acumen.
To enter the Sharjah Masters, participants must have a minimum Elo rating of 2500, although exceptions are occasionally made for exceptionally talented players. The tournament boasts a prize pool of $52,000, with the winner taking home $12,000. This substantial prize has attracted 88 players, including 81 Grandmasters. With nine players rated above 2700, the competition is remarkably strong.
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