FIDE World Cup: Indian Grandmasters Progress to Tiebreaks

Indian Grandmasters Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, and Pentala Harikrishna remain in contention at the FIDE World Cup 2025, following drawn results in their fourth-round matches that necessitated tiebreaks. The matches took place in Goa, where each player faced significant competitors.

In his game, Arjun Erigaisi faced Hungary's Grandmaster Peter Leko, opting to play with the white pieces. The match concluded in a draw after 36 moves. Erigaisi initially looked well-prepared, employing the Nimzo-Indian Defence and gaining a time advantage early in the game. However, despite efforts to press for an advantage, he ultimately agreed to a draw after an evenly matched exchange-heavy position.

Post-match, Leko commented on the game, stating, "I am getting more and more in my preparations and I wasn’t really afraid of Arjun’s opening line. I knew that this b5 that I played is quite solid and there cannot be any miracle in this position. But over the board when Arjun is blitzing all his moves, I know that there is always some pressure. But it was more or less equal all the time."

R Praggnanandhaa, who played with the black pieces against GM Daniil Dubov, also ended in a draw after 30 moves. The game was characterised by high accuracy from both players, contrasting with their previous erratic performance. Praggnanandhaa’s strategic play ensured that neither side could find a breakthrough, leading to the conclusion of the match without a victor.

Pentala Harikrishna faced Sweden's Grandmaster Nils Grandelius while playing white. Despite being in a challenging position, Harikrishna managed to secure a draw in a tense bishop-and-pawn endgame, thus forcing the matchup into tiebreaks.

Among the other Indian players in the fourth round, GM Pranav V saw his campaign come to an end after losing to Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Yakubboev. In contrast, Karthik Venkataraman was also eliminated following his defeat against Vietnam's GM Le Quang Liem.

The initial draw results mean that Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, and P Harikrishna will face off in tiebreak matches scheduled for Thursday. This format typically involves faster time controls, adding an additional layer of excitement and unpredictability to the competition.

Meanwhile, GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara became the first player to move on to the round of 16 after achieving a quick draw against GM Alexey Sarana. His next opponent will be the winner of the Harikrishna versus Grandelius match. Another notable advancement was made by two-time champion GM Levon Aronian, who also secured his place in the next round after drawing his second game against Polish GM Radoslaw Wojtaszek.

As the tournament progresses, the tension increases, with players aiming to secure their spots in the subsequent rounds. The tiebreaks are expected to deliver thrilling matchups as competitors look to advance further in this prestigious event.