Bengaluru: Indian chess sensation Arjun Erigaisi has made a stunning start to the TePe Sigeman tournament by holding world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen to a draw in the first round.
Erigaisi, the highest-ranked Indian at world No. 11, opted for the solid Petroff Defense against Carlsen, which has a reputation for being drawish.
Viswanathan Anand, the five-time world champion, praised Erigaisi's style of play, saying it can be refined to produce more controlled and solid openings.
The symmetrical, queenless middlegame eventually led to a threefold repetition, resulting in a draw.
Erigaisi has been unlucky to miss out on two Candidates tournaments in a row, but this steady start to the tournament will boost his confidence.
The tournament in Malmo, Sweden, which runs from May 1-7, is Carlsen's first classical tournament since Norway Chess in June last year.
