India, Jan. 1 -- Having experienced a difficult 2025, Arjun Erigaisi capped off the year with a bronze medal at the World Rapid and Blitz C'ships in Doha. In the blitz section, he lost to Nodirbek Abdusattorov in the semifinals. The achievement also saw him become only the second Indian, after Viswanathan Anand, to get medals in both sections of the World Rapid and Blitz Championships. Anand bagged the feat with rapid gold and blitz bronze in 2017.

His sensational performance in Doha saw Indian PM Narendra Modi take to social media to congratulate the Indian GM. He tweeted, "India's strides in chess continue! Congratulations to Arjun Erigaisi for winning the Bronze at the FIDE World Blitz Chess Championship in Doha, following his bronze ...