World Blitz: Carlsen wins record-extending ninth title, Erigaisi settles for bronze

World No.1 Magnus Carlsen confirmed his endgame genius but once more so as to add a record-extending ninth world Blitz title to the Speedy gold medal he gained two days again, however Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi suffered a large meltdown within the semifinal to accept a bronze within the World Blitz Championship in Doha on Tuesday (December 30, 2025).

Carlsen refused to simply accept a draw within the title showdown in opposition to younger Uzbek GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov and got here up with a singular pawn transfer out of nowhere within the fourth sport of the title conflict to win 2.5-1.5 and prolong his reign in Blitz.

After the primary three video games, each the gamers had been tied at 1.5 factors every.

The victory was all of the extra candy and fulfilling for the Norwegian after a string of losses within the qualifying (Swiss spherical) the place he actually struggled to safe a spot within the knockout semifinals.

A attract Spherical 19 in opposition to Abdusattorov noticed each Carlsen (13.5 factors) and the Uzbek (13 factors) safe the final two slots within the semifinals on Tuesday behind sole chief Erigaisi (15 factors) and American GM Fabiano Caruana (14 factors).

Carlsen then went on to beat Caruana 3-1 to safe a spot within the closing, whereas an impeccable Abdusattorov inflicted a shattering 2.5-0.5 semifinal defeat on Erigaisi, because the Indian settled for a second bronze, after taking the third-podium spot in Speedy on Sunday.

Nonetheless, the 2 bronze medals is a exceptional achievement for the 22-year-old Erigaisi, who will return residence extra resolute.

The achievement additionally made Erigaisi solely the second Indian male participant after the legendary Viswanathan Anand to win a World Blitz medal within the ‘Open class’.

Earlier, Erigaisi, after gorgeous the likes of Carlsen and Abdusattorov to emerge sole chief with 10 factors from 13 video games, went by the remaining six rounds on Tuesday with steely resolve.

He gained 4 and drew two to stay sole chief with 15 factors to safe a spot within the semifinals.

The Indian was drawn in opposition to 2021 World Speedy champion Abdusattorov, who secured a spot within the last-four by the pores and skin of the enamel, nudging Frenchman Maxime Vachier-Lagrave to fifth spot on ‘greatest tie-break’ rule after each the Grandmasters had ended on 13 factors every.

With Erigaisi in gorgeous kind and having the benefit of beating Abdusattorov on Monday, the Indian was anticipated to go full steam.

However issues took a special and tough flip for Erigaisi. He couldn’t convert the benefit with white within the opening sport, dropping in 47 strikes to be 0-1 down.

A resurgent Abdusattorov turned issues decisively his approach within the second sport by taking part in Rc5′ on the seventy fifth transfer and ending the sport in 83 strikes.

With the Uzbek needing solely half-a-point to seal his place within the closing, Abdusattorov settled for a fast draw with black items after simply 33 strikes regardless of being in a successful place, rendering the fourth sport redundant.