Arjun Erigaisi, the Indian chess grandmaster, has showered praise on an amateur player from India, Atharvaa P. Tayade, for his outstanding performance at the recent World Rapid Team Championship. Erigaisi revealed a surprising detail from his past, stating that he was once defeated by Tayade in 2012 when he was just nine years old.

Erigaisi's team, MGD1, clinched the gold medal at the 2025 World Rapid Team Championship, held in London. However, amidst the celebrations, Erigaisi took a moment to acknowledge the crucial role played by Tayade, who was representing the team as an amateur player which requires players to be rated below 2000 FIDE. Tayade had an outstanding run, maintaining a perfect score since round one until the final game, where he lost.

"I have to give credit to Atharvaa," Erigaisi said in a post-match interview. "He was rock solid for us throughout the tournament. It's quite funny because he actually beat me once upon a time. We played in 2012 in some Indian championship, and he won that game. So, it's good to see him doing so well now."

The revelation of Erigaisi's past defeat against Tayade adds an interesting layer to the story. It highlights the unpredictable nature of chess, where even established grandmasters can fall prey to talented amateurs. It also underscores the importance of recognizing and encouraging emerging talents in the chess world.

MGD1's path to victory at the World Rapid Team Championship was not without its challenges. In the initial stages, Erigaisi faced a setback when he lost a game against veteran Viswanathan Anand. However, the team rallied together, with other members stepping up to secure crucial wins.

Erigaisi also acknowledged the collective effort of his team, stating, "I was having an off tournament in the middle, and someone was always making sure to step up and make up for this." This highlights the team spirit and camaraderie that were essential to their success.

The World Rapid Team Championship featured a total prize fund of €500,000, with €310,000 allocated to the rapid tournament. The event saw participation from 52 teams from around the world, consisting of club members, players from different federations, and other chess enthusiasts. Each team comprised six players, with a requirement to include at least one female player and one recreational player.

Arjun Erigaisi's MGD1 went into the final day of the World Rapid Team Championship as co-leaders with Hexamind, and it turned out the crucial action for gold took place in the first round of the day. MGD1 squeezed out a 3.5-2.5 win, while Hexamind were held to a draw after GM Sam Sevian (an unbeaten 8/11) took down individual World Rapid Champion GM Volodar Murzin. That gave MGD1 the sole lead, and ultimately the title, after both teams won their remaining three matches. After a disastrous 0.5/4 on day two, Arjun hit back with 3.5/4, starting with a win over GM Richard Rapport, then rescuing a draw from a lost endgame against GM Nihal Sarin.