Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin has reached the Chess playoffs on the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh. After dropping 0–2 to Arjun Erigaisi on Day 1, he bounced again with a 2–0 win over Anish Giri.
Sarin, who represents S8UL Esports, then defeated Maxime Vachier-Lagrave 1.5–0.5 to qualify from Group B. At EWC 2025, Nihal then confronted five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen within the quarter-finals on July 31.
The match drew consideration for its pressure and high-level play. Within the first speedy sport, Nihal managed a draw regardless of having solely 20 seconds left. Nonetheless, Carlsen later gained the match 2.5–0.5 by taking the following video games.
One key second got here when Carlsen provided a draw within the second sport, however Nihal refused. Carlsen smiled through the second. Magnus later gained that sport. Although Nihal didn’t attain the semifinals, his fearless efficiency impressed followers and consultants.
Who’s Nihal Sarin?
Nihal Sarin is certainly one of India’s prime younger chess gamers. He was born on July 13, 2004, in Thrissur, Kerala. He grew to become a grandmaster on the age of 14 in 2018.
Nihal is thought for taking part in very quick whereas staying calm, even beneath time stress. He’s particularly good in speedy and blitz chess codecs.
Nihal Sarin gained the U-10 World Blitz Championship in 2013 and the U-10 World Youth Championship in 2014. In 2020, he grew to become the U-18 World Youth Champion and gained gold for India within the on-line FIDE Chess Olympiad.
Sarin additionally gained Chess.com’s Junior Velocity Chess Championship in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, he reached the ultimate of the Chess.com World Championship, beating prime gamers like Kramnik, Ding Liren and Anish Giri. Solely Wesley So may cease him. He earned $100,000 as runner-up.
That 12 months, he additionally gained the Tata Metal India Fast and received a bronze medal on the FIDE Olympiad. In 2023, his FIDE ranking reached 2692, inserting him forty fourth on the earth.
