Arjun Prevails At The Final Turn, Nakamura Dominates

GM Arjun Erigaisi prevailed over GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda with a combined score of 12-10, striking in the crucial final four games of the 1+1 bullet segment in the first match of the first day of the 2024 Speed Chess Championship. In the other match, GM Hikaru Nakamura dominated against GM Jose Martinez, winning with a final score of 14-8.

The next two Round of 16 matches will be on Friday, July 26. GM Magnus Carlsen vs. GM Tuan Minh Le begins at 10 a.m. ET / 16:00 CEST / 7:30 p.m. IST and GM Ian Nepomniachtchi vs. GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov begins at 1:30 p.m. ET / 19:30 CEST / 11:00 p.m. IST.

Jan-Krzysztof Duda 10-12 Arjun Erigaisi


The match started with Arjun considered the favorite, although Duda was more impressive from the get-go by creating many promising positions. But it was the clock that proved to be his nemesis in the earlier part of the match. Duda seemed to be getting frustrated with not being able to convert many favorable positions, even ending up occasionally losing on time or blundering in superior positions.

Watching the match live, it also looked like Duda was the one who missed more opportunities, judging by the number of times he was seen to be shaking his head. In comparison, Arjun looked composed, most of the time.

But, to his credit, it was a match of comebacks for Arjun. Duda was in the lead at the end of the fourth, seventh, ninth, 11th, 13th, 16th, and 18th games. Not only did Arjun pull back no less than seven times to level the match, he won the crucial 20th and 22nd games to finally win the match by a two-point margin.

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