Arjun Erigaisi, India's No.2 grandmaster, slipped 0‑1 in a stunning first‑round loss to Thai IM Prin Laohawirapap at the 2026 Chess Olympiad in Samarkand.
With a 400‑point rating edge and white pieces, the match should have been a walk‑away, but the Thai’s daring play turned the tables.
Thipsay said Arjun opened with a Colle, a solid but not sharp system, giving him a slight edge early on. The first real swing came on move 18 when Prin’s rook to e8 backfired, exposing a tactical opportunity that Arjun capitalised.
Arjun’s choice to trade the black knight on move 28 instead of a pawn push left the position level, and by move 31 Prin’s own rook‑to‑e8 blunder weakened his kingside, sealing Arjun’s advantage.
At 46‑47, Prin offered an exchange, a risky play that could have swung the game; Arjun’s cautious knight move kept the game alive but cost him a decisive edge. Then, on move 50, the ambitious Qg7 backfired, leading to a quick defeat.
Despite Arjun’s shock, India’s other boards dominated, and the team won 3‑1 overall. The women's squad went 4‑0, cementing their dominance. Next up: India faces Indonesia in the Open, while the women take on Finland.