Indian chess prodigy Nihal Sarin has secured his spot in the quarterfinals of the prestigious Esports World Cup in Riyadh, joining fellow countryman Arjun Erigaisi in the knockout stage.
Nihal Sarin Breaks Through to Quarterfinals
After a compelling performance, Nihal Sarin defeated French grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave with a 1.5-0.5 score, cementing his place in the Esports World Cup quarterfinals. This victory marks a significant achievement for the young Indian player.
Sarin’s journey in the tournament has been one of resilience. Following an initial loss to Arjun Erigaisi, he staged an impressive comeback. He first triumphed over Dutch player Anish Giri with a dominant 2-0 score, setting the stage for his decisive win against Vachier-Lagrave.
Magnus Carlsen Praises Sarin’s Speed Skills
World chess champion Magnus Carlsen, who also advanced to the quarterfinals, openly acknowledged Nihal Sarin’s exceptional talent, especially in speed chess. Carlsen himself is known for his rapid play, making his praise particularly noteworthy.
Ahead of the tournament, Carlsen commented on the challenges of mouse speed in online chess, stating, “We will see, however, you could run into really dangerous matchups here. For instance, we saw in the qualifier how incredibly good Nihal (Sarin) is with very little time on the clock.” He highlighted Sarin as one of the players who can leverage mouse speed to their advantage in high-stakes matches.
Sarin’s Challenging Road to Qualification
Nihal Sarin’s path to the main event was not straightforward. He initially failed to qualify through the two primary qualifier events for the Esports World Cup.
Determined to compete, Sarin had to enter the Last Chance Qualifier held in Riyadh. Here, he demonstrated his tenacity, defeating Russia’s Andrey Esipenko to reach the finals of the Winner’s Bracket, which ultimately secured his coveted spot in the main tournament.
Understanding the Esports World Cup
The Esports World Cup is a groundbreaking event that brings together elite esports clubs from around the globe. It features competitions across 24 popular gaming titles, with chess making its debut as an online event this year.
The current tournament is part of the inaugural 2024 edition, which is an eight-week long spectacle. Looking ahead, the 2025 event is set to be the largest multi-title esports tournament in history, boasting over 2,000 players, 200 teams, and an astonishing $70 million prize pool.
- Nihal Sarin defeated Maxime Vachier-Lagrave to reach the EWC quarterfinals.
- He joins fellow Indian player Arjun Erigaisi in the knockout stage.
- World Champion Magnus Carlsen highly praised Sarin’s prowess in speed chess.
- Sarin secured his spot through a challenging Last Chance Qualifier.
As the Esports World Cup progresses, all eyes will be on Nihal Sarin and Arjun Erigaisi as they represent India on this global stage.
