Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi must have breathed a sigh of relief after he received his United States visa to compete in the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships, which are scheduled to kick off on December 26th in New York.
On Friday, Arjun asked the US Embassy to speed up his visa process, as the tournament was just days away. He also requested help from External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, and the All India Chess Federation (AICF).
Arjun Erigaisi Secures US Visa for FIDE World Championships
The FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships will have top chess players like Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Fabiano Caruana. D Gukesh, the newly crowned world champion, will miss the tournament, which runs until December 31.
Arjun took to his official X handle and shared the good news. He revealed that he had received a US Visa. He further expressed his gratitude towards the positive response he received on his situation. He also thanked Anand Mahindra along with a few notable institutions. He wrote:
“I have received the US Visa! I am honestly overwhelmed and very grateful for so much positive response to my situation 🙏”
“Thank you to the @USAndIndia & @USAmbIndia for the quick turn around! Thank you @MEAIndia @anandmahindra @narangnitin @aicfchess @IndiaSports @FIDE_chess @USChess @QBResearch @mgd1_esports journalists and many other well wishers who went out of their way to make this happen 🙏 I hope to make all of you and our country proud of my achievements 🙏 New York here I come!”
Check out the Tweet:
I have received the US Visa!
I am honestly overwhelmed and very grateful for so much positive response to my situation 🙏
Thank you to the @USAndIndia & @USAmbIndia for the quick turn around!
Thank you @MEAIndia @anandmahindra @narangnitin @aicfchess @IndiaSports @FIDE_chess…
— Arjun Erigaisi (@ArjunErigaisi) December 23, 2024
Anand Mahindra’s Support: A Message of Encouragement for Arjun
The Tweet went viral in no time and was flooded with reactions from the fans. Among many, Anand Mahindra was also quick to notice and tweet and join the bandwagon. In his Tweet, he the Mahindra and Mahindra Group Chairman said “it was a duty to be of help” to the Indian Grandmaster, and wished Arjun the best for the tournament. He wrote:
“It was a duty to be of help, Arjun Erigaisi. If we don’t support our champions, who will? And well deserved thanks to MEA India, & the US Amb India who responded with alacrity…”
He added: “Our best wishes for your success, Arjun. Above all, enjoy yourself. You are making India proud, no matter what the final result.”
Check out the Tweet:
It was a duty to be of help, @ArjunErigaisi
If we don’t support our champions, who will?
And well deserved thanks to @MEAIndia & the @USAmbIndia who responded with alacrity…
Our best wishes for your success, Arjun. Above all, enjoy yourself.
You are making India proud, no… https://t.co/Wd6bfSUctf— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) December 24, 2024
Arjun, who recently became the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to reach the impressive 2800 ELO rating, has been in outstanding form this year. He won an individual gold medal and helped his team win the title in India’s historic Chess Olympiad performance.
The top players in the championship include Hikaru Nakamura, Wesley So, Levon Aronian, Jeffrey Xiong, Leinier Dominguez Perez, Hans Niemann, and Sam Shankland.
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