Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (December 29) congratulated Indian Grandmasters Arjun Erigaisi and Koneru Humpy after they secured bronze medals at the 2025 FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship in Doha.
Arjun Erigaisi finished third in the Open section with 9.5 points, earning his first medal at the World Rapid Championships. The result marked a historic result as it made Modi the second Indian male player, after former world champion and India’s first grandmaster Viswanathan Anand, to finish on the podium at the event.
Modi praises Arjun Erigaisi, Koneru Humpy’s performance
In a post on X, Modi lauded Arjun Erigaisi and Koneru Humpy’s performances with Koneru also winning a bronze.
“Congratulations to Koneru Humpy, who finished strongly at the 2025 FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship in Doha, securing the Bronze medal in the women’s section. Her dedication towards the game is commendable. Best wishes for the endeavours ahead,” PM Modi wrote on X.
“Proud of Arjun Erigaisi for winning the Bronze medal in the open section at the FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship in Doha. His grit is noteworthy. Wishing him the very best for his future endeavours,” he wrote in another post.
Arjun’s bronze comes at a time when he continues to consolidate his position among the world’s top-ranked players and one of India’s leading contenders on the international circuit.
The Prime Minister’s message followed the conclusion of the championship, which saw several closely contested rounds in the Open section.
Koneru Humpy bags bronze after missing playoff on tiebreaks
In the women’s section, Koneru Humpy finished with a bronze medal after ending the tournament tied on points with Zhu Jiner and Aleksandra Goryachkina. However, due to tiebreak regulations that allow only the top two players to advance to the blitz playoff, Humpy missed out on the title decider despite a strong overall performance.
Modi also congratulated Humpy, praising her dedication to the sport and extending his best wishes for her future endeavours. The bronze adds to Humpy’s long list of international achievements and comes as she continues to be a consistent presence at the top level of women’s chess.
The focus now shifts to the World Blitz Chess Championship, which begins next, with Indian players set to continue their campaigns in Doha.