Arjun Erigaisi opposes converting online chess ratings to official FIDE status

Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi has expressed reservations regarding a proposal by FIDE and World Chess to convert online rapid and blitz ratings into a player’s first official FIDE rating.

A White Paper has detailed a proposed two-year experiment to facilitate this conversion via World Chess, which includes identity verification, fair-play checks, and a rating ceiling of 1,800.

Erigaisi argues that online and over-the-board chess should remain distinct due to fundamental differences in integrity and gameplay. He specifically cited issues such as mouse slips, dirty flagging, and the lack of physical supervision when players compete from home, noting that these factors make it difficult to guarantee the same level of fair play found in supervised, in-person competitions.