'Arjun generates tactics out of thin air': Vishy Anand praises India No. 1 Erigaisi after humbling him in match

Five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand rolled back the years with a superb win over India’s current No. 1, Arjun Erigaisi, in round 5 of the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Team Championships in London on Thursday. The game ended in just 31 moves, with Anand showing once again who is the real boss.

Anand praises Arjun despite defeating him in 31 moves

After the match, Anand shared his thoughts and praised Arjun’s creative style. “I’m obviously delighted with the result. But it was chaotic, and there were moments where I wasn’t sure what was going on. Somehow, he just generates tactics out of thin air,” Anand told Take Take Take.

Anand was especially impressed by how Arjun’s pieces came together on the board. “I don’t even know how the battery queen d4 got set up. It got set up by itself almost. How does he even manage? But then I found this plan with f6 and played knight to c5. I wasn’t sure what exactly was going on. There were a lot of details,” he explained.

One key moment was after Arjun played bishop to d3. “I had not worked out every detail after bishop to d3. I spent like two minutes there and I felt it was a critical moment. After thinking it through, I found queen g4. It took me maybe 20 seconds to believe what I found and then I could play it.”

Anand on Arjun arriving late for the game

Anand was also asked whether Arjun’s late arrival to the game had affected his focus. The current India No. 5 said that it didn’t affect him at all. “He said he was sorry, and that’s it. It didn’t affect me,” Anand, who is a part of Team MGD1, said. He hasn’t lost a single game in the event so far.

When asked if playing a fellow Indian adds any pressure or motivation, Anand admitted that it does feel a little different. “Well, there is a little extra. I can’t pretend otherwise. But it’s also true that he and Gukesh are at the top in India right now. So I’m happy with the result. Let’s put it that way.”