Doha, Dec 31 (.) Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi capped a remarkable campaign with a bronze medal at the World Blitz Championship here on Tuesday, even as World No.1 Magnus Carlsen went on to clinch a record-extending ninth world blitz title.
Erigaisi, 22, had to settle for bronze after suffering a heavy 2.5-0.5 defeat to young Uzbek Grandmaster Nodirbek Abdusattorov in the semifinals.
Despite the setback, the medal marked a significant achievement for the Indian, who also won bronze in the Rapid Championship earlier in the week, becoming only the second Indian male player after Viswanathan Anand to win a World Blitz medal in the Open category.
The Indian had topped the league stage with an impressive 15 points, winning four and drawing two of his final six games to finish as the sole leader. However, he was unable to convert early opportunities in the semifinal, losing the opening game despite pressing with the white pieces.
Abdusattorov then tightened his grip on the match by converting the second game after a long endgame battle, before settling for a quick draw to seal his place in the final.
In the title clash, Magnus Carlsen once again underlined his supremacy in the format, defeating Abdusattorov 2.5-1.5 to add a ninth World Blitz crown to the Rapid gold medal he had secured two days earlier.
The Norwegian produced a stunning pawn move in the fourth game to break the deadlock after the first three games had left both players tied at 1.5 points each.
Earlier, Carlsen and Abdusattorov secured the final two semifinal spots with a draw in the 19th round, finishing on 13.5 and 13 points respectively, behind Erigaisi and American GM Fabiano Caruana. Carlsen then overcame Caruana 3-1 in the semifinals to advance to the final.
. VAN ARN