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The government, which had earlier granted Rs 4 Lakhs for players who reach the GM title and Rs 1.5 Lakhs for IM and IGM titles, will now issue prize money only for winning world-level competitions, and Erigaisi opined that eliminating such rewards might push parents…Read More
Arjun Erigaisi. (X)
Indian GM Arjun Erigaisi opined that the sports ministry’s decision to scrap the prize reward system for players who breach the Grand Master, International Master or International Women Master classifications could prove determinantal for the aspirants.
The government had earlier granted Rs 4 Lakhs for players who reach the GM title and Rs 1.5 Lakhs for IM and IGM titles but will now issue prize money only for winning world-level competitions, and the 21-year-old stated that eliminating such rewards might push parents to rethink their wards’ future in the sport.
“If it is actually the case that it is stopped now, then it’s definitely not something that would demotivate a lot of young children as they don’t care about the money aspect,” Erigaisi said.
“But it is maybe demotivating for the parents. When they have to make some financial calls, then what would happen after becoming a Grandmaster would be a question,” he added.
“And if there is some motivation like this, then there are more chances that they would encourage their children if they have to make a call between chess and studies. It’s not something ideal,” the GM continued
Erigaisi enjoyed a purple patch in the year 2024 as an important member of the side that clinched the Chess Olympiad but has had to endure a sub-par start to the year 2025. He voiced that the slump might be due to his penchant for taking risks, but added that he would try and strike a calibrated chord in terms of taking his chances going ahead.
“It was a very good year and I’m happy with the way things went, like with everything basically and this year hasn’t been a good start but I hope to do better in the coming months,” he said.
“One factor that has contributed to his recent slump is his penchant for taking risks, a style that has also brought him success,” Erigaisi explained.
“I was taking too many risks and I should be careful. I will tone it down but it doesn’t mean that I won’t take risks rather I’ll take them less rashly because some of my risks were way too rash which just got punished. So I’ll be taking risks but in a more balanced way,” he asserted.
Despite his downward turn in form, Erigaisi was able to pick up a scalp off World Champions D Gukesh at the Tata Steel Chess Championship which paved the way for compatriot R Pragg to also get one over the youngest World Champion. Erigasi revealed that Pragg joked that he would get him a gift for opening the door for him and lived upto his words.
“He brought me paprika-flavoured Pringles. It’s my favourite flavour and once I was looking for it at some airport and he was there with me and I couldn’t find it. He remembered it and we bought it there,” Erigiasi said.
Erigaisi, who became the first Indian since the legendary Viswanathan Anand to breach the ELO 2800 mark, dropped 29 rating points in the span of ten days during his struggles at Tata Chess Steel, but the GM stated that it wasn’t something he lost sleep over.
“I don’t care about rating points much, it’s about mainly trying to qualify for the Candidates. And of course, no one likes to lose ratings.”
Erigaisi added that his was pumped for the Norway Chess Tournament where he could encounter big-tag names such as Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura in the classical format.
“I’m very much looking forward to it. Magnus, I played him last in Classical in 2023 so it’s been a long time,” the GM from Warangal said.
“And Hikaro I’ve played only once (in classical). And Fabi also, realistically I played only once. So most of these top players I haven’t played them that many times in Classical. So I’m quite looking forward to it,” he concluded.
