Indian grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi triumphed in the early Titled Tuesday weekly blitz tournament hosted by Chess.com, outplaying notable competitors, including World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and World No. 2 Fabiano Caruana.

The competition commenced around midnight on Tuesday, with Arjun finishing with an impressive total of 10 points from 11 rounds. The 21-year-old notably defeated Magnus Carlsen with the black pieces in round 10 and then secured victory against Fabiano Caruana in the final round.

Erigaisi’s only loss came in round seven against American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, who also finished the Titled Tuesday event with 10 points but placed lower due to tiebreak criteria. Nakamura, however, clinched the top position in a subsequent 11-round event of Titled Tuesday. Notably, D Gukesh, who won the World Chess Championship title in December, did not take part in this competition.

Titled Tuesday is an online tournament exclusive to titled players with verified accounts on Chess.com. For fair play reasons, participants must be available for Zoom calls during the event. Players often use competitions like Titled Tuesday to maintain consistency in their game and to earn bragging rights among their peers.

More than 900 players participated in the latest edition of Titled Tuesday, which Nakamura has described as the “world’s strongest tournament.”

Arjun had a remarkable 2024, highlighted by winning the Chess Olympiad with the Indian team and clinching the WR Chess Masters Cup in London. In December, he became only the second Indian ever to surpass the 2800 Elo rating mark, following the legendary Viswanathan Anand.

However, Arjun’s aspirations to compete in the 2026 Candidates tournament were dashed when he did not win the 2024 FIDE Rapid Championship in New York this past December. He finished sixth, trailing Fabiano Caruana by six points in the FIDE Circuit standings, making the Rapid Championship crucial for his chances. Ultimately, Arjun placed fifth in the Rapid Championship with a total of nine points.

Both Fabiano and Arjun have participated in seven tournaments within the FIDE Circuit. Arjun received his U.S. visa only on Monday. The FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships are scheduled to take place from December 26 to December 31.

India Women’s cricket team capped off a remarkable series with a dominant performance against Ireland in the third and final ODI at Rajkot on Wednesday. Building on their historic first-innings total of 435-5, the Indian bowlers delivered an equally commanding performance to bundle Ireland out for a mere 131, clinching victory by a staggering 304 runs.

The match was a showcase of India’s all-around dominance, led by skipper Smriti Mandhana and rising star Pratika Rawal. The duo’s centuries in the first innings – Mandhana’s elegant 135 and Rawal’s explosive 154 – powered India to their highest-ever ODI total and their first time crossing the 400-run mark in women’s ODI cricket.

Ireland’s chase was fraught with challenges from the outset, as Indian bowlers struck early and consistently. Tanuja Kanwar and Minnu Mani, making their returns to the playing XI, proved instrumental in dismantling the Irish batting order. Ireland found themselves at 131-10 after 31.4 overs, with little resistance from their middle and lower order.

Social media erupted with praise for the Indian team, with fans celebrating the milestone victory. One user on X (formerly Twitter) exclaimed, “TEAM INDIA CREATED HISTORY AT RAJKOT 🚨 – INDIA WOMEN’S TEAM FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER SCORED 400+ RUNS TOTAL IN ODI CRICKET HISTORY.” Another post added, “For the first time ever, India W have crossed 400 in ODIs 🥵🥵.”

This match marked a complete whitewash for the hosts, who won the three-match series 3-0. Beyond the numbers, the series showcased the depth and talent of the Indian Women’s team, signaling their growing strength on the global stage.

India’s commanding performance was a testament to their preparation and execution throughout the series. The batting display, headlined by Pratika Rawal’s 154 and Smriti Mandhana’s 135, set the tone for the match and ensured India had a near-unassailable total on the board. Supported by Richa Ghosh’s quickfire 59, the team’s aggressive approach showcased their intent to dominate the game from the outset.

The bowlers complemented the batting efforts with a disciplined and clinical display, dismantling Ireland’s batting lineup with precision. Tanuja Kanwar and Minnu Mani, making impactful returns to the XI, led the charge alongside the regular bowling attack. Ireland’s struggles against India’s varied bowling arsenal highlighted the gulf in performance levels between the two teams on the day.

With this emphatic win, India Women have not only solidified their dominance in the series but have also sent a strong message to their global counterparts as they continue their journey toward becoming a powerhouse in women’s cricket.

Young Indian opener Pratika Rawal left fans and cricket pundits in awe with her spectacular performance during the third ODI against Ireland at Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot, on January 15. Rawal, a psychology student, showcased her remarkable talent with a maiden century, scoring a breathtaking 154 off 129 balls. Her innings included 20 fours and a six, and she formed a colossal 233-run opening partnership with Smriti Mandhana.

This stunning knock places Rawal among the elite in Indian women’s cricket as she registered the third-highest individual score in ODIs by an Indian woman, following Deepti Sharma’s 188 and Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten 171.

A blazing start
Rawal got her innings off to a flying start, hitting three consecutive boundaries against Orla Pendergast in the third over. She displayed impeccable timing and control, reaching her half-century off just 52 balls. Her partnership with Mandhana flourished, marking their fourth century stand in just six innings together.

Milestone moments
Rawal reached her maiden ODI century in the 35th over with a single against Ava Canning. Post the milestone, she shifted gears, taking only 27 more deliveries to cross the 150-run mark. Her aggressive approach and clean hitting left the Irish bowlers struggling to contain her. However, her remarkable innings ended when she attempted a big shot off Freya Sargent and was caught at long off by Georgia Dempsey.

Breaking records
Rawal’s outstanding knock earned her a standing ovation from the Rajkot crowd. With 444 runs in just six innings, she now holds the record for the most runs scored by a player in their first six Women’s ODI innings. Her current ODI statistics include an impressive average of 74, featuring one century and three half-centuries.

Pratika Rawal’s extraordinary form has not only solidified her place in the Indian team but has also made her one of the most exciting prospects in international women’s cricket. Fans and analysts are eager to see what the future holds for this rising star.