 "Lesser-known Indian chess players Atharvaa, Pranav help Erigaisi’s Team MGD1 win World Rapid Team Championship 2025")
Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi’s Team MGD1 has won the 2025 World Rapid Teams title after a perfect four match wins on the final day in London. While Team MGD1 won gold, Levon Aronian’s Hexamind clinched silver and legendary Viswanathan Anand’s Freedom were bronze medal winner.
The tournament favourites WR Chess missed out on a medal after Alireza Firouzja lost to Nodirbek Abdusattorov on the last day. The Blitz starts from Saturday.
Atharvaa, Pranav inspire Team MGD1 to World Rapid Team Championship title
MGD1 and Hexamind were the co-leaders of the World Rapid Team Championship before the start of the final day. However, MGD1 won the gold medal after clinching their final match 3.5-2.5 against KazChess, while Hexamind were held to a 3-3 draw by bronze medal winner Freedom.
For MGD1, Erigaisi won his match against Richard Rapport, Bengaluru’s Pranav V defeated Aldiyar Ansat and Atharvaa P Tayade thumped Islam Aiten.
This crucial win allowed MGD1 to take the sole lead in the standings and they went onto win the World Rapid Team Championship 2025 by winning their next three matches.
Besides Erigaisi, who is the second Indian to cross 2800 Elo rating after Anand, lesser-known Pranav and Atharvaa emerged as the biggest match-winners for MGD1 in the World Rapid Team Championship 2025. The 18-year-old GM Pranav, who scored 7.5/8 in total, won the gold medal on board five.
Amateur chess player Atharvaa had a mind-boggling score of 11/12 and earned high praise from Erigaisi.
“Yes, clearly. I actually didn’t know him, but funny thing is that back in the day, in a tournament in 2012, we played a game and he beat me there," Erigaisi told Take Take Take recalling a match against Atharvaa. “And I did not remember about that game, but yes, it was a bit funny to do that. And, Srinath did a great job of finding him. And also, he’s done IIT and he’s doing IIM. So it’s like, two of the toughest ones in education in India.”
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