For the second straight cycle, Arjun Erigaisi has come heartbreakingly close to qualifying for the Candidates Tournament — the most important qualifier in chess — only to miss out by the slimmest of margins. His quarterfinal exit at the 2025 FIDE World Cup in Goa, where he lost to China’s Wei Yi in the rapid tiebreaks, ended India’s campaign and shut the door on the three coveted Candidates spots available at the event.
For Arjun, the result felt painfully familiar. The Indian grandmaster has spent the last three years circling the Candidates from every possible direction: World Cup, Grand Swiss, FIDE Circuit. In almost every case, he finished just one step away.
Below is a look at how incredibly close he came in both the 2024 and 2026 Candidates cycles.
Close Calls in the 2024 Cycle
FIDE World Cup 2023 – 5–8th Place (Top 3 Qualify)
Arjun reached the quarterfinals but needed a semifinal spot to secure a Candidates ticket. He missed by a single match — the same “last step” heartbreak mentioned in news reports.
FIDE Grand Swiss 2023 – 4th Place (Top 2 Qualify)
Another near-miss. Finishing fourth in one of the toughest tournaments in the world would be a career highlight for many, but for Arjun it meant falling just outside the qualification zone again.
FIDE Circuit 2023 – 5th Place (Only 1 Qualifies)
Only the overall winner of the Circuit gets a Candidates place. Arjun finished fifth — close, but still short of the single golden ticket.
Close Calls in the 2026 Cycle
FIDE Circuit 2024 – 2nd Place (Only 1 Qualifies)
Perhaps the most painful miss of all. Arjun finished second in the entire FIDE Circuit, just behind the champion. Only the winner qualifies — meaning Arjun was literally the next in line.
FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 – 6th Place (Top 2 Qualify)
Once again he performed strongly in one of chess’s hardest open tournaments, but sixth place was not enough to grab a Candidates spot.
FIDE World Cup 2025 – 5–8th Place (Top 3 Qualify)
And now, the latest disappointment: another quarterfinal exit. Another “so close but not enough” finish. Another cycle ending just one match away from a dream.
A Pattern of Consistency — and Heartbreak
Across two cycles, the story is the same:
- Finish in the top 8 of the World Cup when top 3 qualify.
- Finish 4th or 6th in the Grand Swiss when top 2 qualify.
- Finish 2nd or 5th in the FIDE Circuit when only the winner qualifies.
In every path possible, Arjun has been hovering right outside the qualifying line — never far, never failing badly, always performing at the level of a world-class contender but never pushing through the final door.
This consistency is remarkable. So is the heartbreak.
Where Does Arjun Go From Here?
Even without a Candidates ticket, Arjun remains one of the strongest and most exciting players in the world:
- A 2800-rated phenom
- A former world #3
- India’s top-rated player in 2024
- A player known for bold, creative, “madman” chess
But as of now, it appears that the 2026 Candidates will likely feature only one Indian: R Praggnanandhaa.
Arjun will have to wait for the next cycle — and if history is any indication, he will once again be dangerously close.
I’m a passionate board game enthusiast and a skilled player in chess, xiangqi and Go. Words for Attacking Chess since 2023. Ping me at Lichess for a game or chat.
