Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi won the 2024 WR Chess Masters Cup by beating France’s Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in armageddon.
By clinching the title, Arjun won a paycheque of €20,000 top prize and 27.84 FIDE Circuit points.
Despite the win, Arjun failed to cross the 2800 mark after his French opponent forced two consecutive two draws in the classical games.
Arjun needed to win in classical chess on the final day of the tournament to cross 2800 for the first time in his career.
With Vachier-Lagrave having drawn all his classical games but winning three of three armageddons, Arjun summed up his strategy as “Basically, I thought I should finish it off in classical!”
In the first classical game against Vachier-Lagrave, Arjun equalised well with the Black pieces and was never in trouble. In the second game, he created a chaotic position with the White pieces, and was slightly better – but Vachier-Lagrave played very well and found counterplay.
Once Arjun understood the position was shifting, he pulled the brakes at the perfect moment and drew the game.
By showing his mature game, he played for a win instead of chasing the 2800 mark.
Arjun had six minutes and 58 seconds in Armageddon, while Vachier-Lagrave had 10 minutes. He showed very practical play with the Black pieces- playing fast the entire game, making important decisions, and never letting the control go out of his hands. Vachier-Lagrave had to push for a win, and that gave Arjun chances – he won the game, the match and the tournament.
Arjun, currently the World No. 4 with a live rating 2796.1, beat compatriot Vidit Gujrathi and R Praggnanandhaa on course to winning the title. The two wins took him closer to the 2800 mark.