Andhra Pradesh CM Celebrates Arjun Erigaisi and Koneru Humpy's Bronze Wins at FIDE World Rapid Championship

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has congratulated chess players Arjun Erigaisi and Koneru Humpy for their bronze medal victories at the FIDE World Rapid Championship. Arjun's achievement marks him as the second Indian male player to reach the podium, while Humpy's performance showcases her resilience in the sport. The championship continues with the World Blitz Championship, promising more exciting chess action.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 29, 2025, 14:59 IST

Recognition for India's Chess Champions

On Monday, N Chandrababu Naidu, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, extended his congratulations to Indian chess players Arjun Erigaisi and Koneru Humpy for their remarkable achievements at the FIDE World Rapid Championship, where they both secured bronze medals.

Arjun Erigaisi's Remarkable Achievement

The FIDE World Rapid Championship took place in Doha, featuring a 13-round Swiss format with a time control of 15 minutes plus a 10-second increment. Magnus Carlsen emerged victorious, claiming his sixth World Rapid title with an impressive score of 10.5 out of 13.

Arjun Erigaisi marked his first bronze medal at this championship, finishing with a score of 9.5. He is now recognized as only the second Indian male player to achieve a podium finish, following the legendary Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand.

Chief Minister Naidu praised Arjun's significant accomplishment, stating, "Congratulations to Arjun Erigaisi on winning the bronze medal at the FIDE World Rapid Championship. His podium finish makes him the only Indian male player to achieve this feat since Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand. A son of Telangana, Arjun has added another chapter of pride to India's illustrious chess legacy," in a post on X.

Koneru Humpy's Bronze Medal Victory

The women's championship concluded with a blitz playoff after Zhu Jiner, Aleksandra Goryachkina, and defending champion Humpy Koneru all finished tied with 8 points out of 10. In Round 11, Zhu and Goryachkina drew their matches, while Koneru had a winning position against B. Savitha but faltered under time pressure, resulting in a draw.

According to the tournament rules, only the top two players based on tiebreaks advanced to the playoff finals. Consequently, Goryachkina and Zhu faced off in two blitz games, with Humpy securing the bronze medal.

Following her achievement, CM Naidu commended Humpy's bravery in competing at such a high level, stating, "Congratulations to Koneru Humpy on winning the bronze medal at the FIDE World Rapid Championship. Champions are not defined by one result, but by the courage to compete at the highest level, again and again. A bronze on the world stage reflects true excellence. Your journey, consistency, and the pride you bring to India inspire millions."

Upcoming Events

The chess action continues with the commencement of the two-day World Blitz Championship in both the Open and Women's categories on Monday, December 29.