 "Arjun Erigaisi is six points behind Fabio Caruana in the FIDE Circuit standings. Image credit: FIDE")
Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi is only six points behind leader Fabiano Caruana in the FIDE Circuit standings ahead of the World Rapid and Blitz Championships that will get underway in New York from 26 December. The 2024 FIDE Circuit offers one spot for securing qualification in the 2026 Candidates tournament, and currently Fabio Caruana (First rank) and Arjun Erigaisi (Second rank) are fighting for that spot.
Caruana has 130.42 rating points whereas Arjun has 124.40 rating points. Caruana took the lead in the FIDE Circuit ratings after winning the 2024 Saint Louis Masters earlier in December. Caruana clinched 16.39 points following the victory. Arjun, on the other hand, finished the 2024 Qatar Masters Open in second place.
Both Fabio and Arjun have played seven tournaments each in the FIDE Circuit. Arjun only got his United States visa on Monday. The Warangal-born player had recently become the second Indian after the legendary Viswanathan Anand to breach the 2800 Elo rating . The FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships will be held from 26 December to 31 December.
Updated FIDE Circuit Standings
| Rank | Player | Rating | Circuit points | Total No of events competed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fabiano Caruana (USA) | 2805 | 130.42 | 7 |
| 2 | Arjun Erigaisi (IND) | 2761 | 124.40 | 7 |
| 3 | Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB) | 2766 | 108.49 | 7 |
| 4 | Alireza Firouzja (FRA) | 2737 | 88.16 | 6 |
| 5 | D Gukesh (IND) | 2763 | 84.13 | 4 |
| 6 | R Praggnanandhaa (IND) | 2747 | 66.76 | 5 |
| 7 | Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB) | 2634 | 57.40 | 6 |
| 8 | Amin Tabatabaei (IRI) | 2713 | 56.39 | 6 |
| 9 | Shamsiddin Vokhidov (UZB) | 2624 | 53.56 | 4 |
| 10 | Daniel Dardha (BEL) | 2639 | 51.73 | 6 |