Erigaisi and Harikrishna Move Forward
Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi triumphed over GM Peter Leko in both rapid games, while P Harikrishna capitalized on his opportunities to defeat GM Nils Grandelius in the second game, securing their spots in the pre-quarterfinals of the FIDE World Cup 2025 on Thursday. Unfortunately, R Praggnanandhaa’s journey ended after a loss to former World Rapid Champion GM Daniil Dubov in the fifth round. With Pranav V and Karthik Venkataraman also falling in their classical matches during round 5, three Indian players entered the tiebreak, with two advancing to the next stage. The FIDE World Cup features a knockout format consisting of eight rounds, each comprising two games.
Erigaisi Shines in Tiebreak
In the tiebreak, Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi outperformed GM Peter Leko in both rapid games. Before the tiebreak, Arjun agreed to a draw after 36 moves against the seasoned GM Leko, playing with white pieces. Despite feeling pressure, Harikrishna managed to secure a draw in a bishop-pawn endgame. Arjun emerged as the standout performer, winning the first rapid game in 40 moves with black, capitalizing on Leko’s pawn sacrifice mistake. In the second game, Leko took risks in a must-win scenario, but Arjun maintained his composure to clinch victory in 57 moves.
“I am very happy. The tiebreak went well. The classical games were pretty intense, and I had a slight advantage in the second game, but he showed his class to draw. But in the tiebreak, I was pretty much in control,” Arjun stated, as reported by FIDE, and he will now face two-time World Cup champion GM Levon Aronian.
Harikrishna Stays Calm to Progress
Harikrishna also advanced, managing to hold Grandelius in the first game with black and then outplaying him in 34 moves with white, setting up a Round of 16 match against the formidable GM Jose Eduardo Martínez Alcantara.
Praggnanandhaa’s Journey Concludes
In another significant match, Praggnanandhaa drew the first rapid game with black in just 12 moves and aimed for a win with white. However, his strategy backfired as Dubov outmaneuvered him with a powerful attacking line, winning in 53 moves.
Additional Tiebreak Highlights
In other notable matches, GM Aleksey Grebnev defeated GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave after winning the first rapid game with white in 70 moves and then drawing the second to advance. GM Sam Shankland won both his rapid games against GM Richard Rapport, moving on to the Round of 16.
India Results (Round 4, Tiebreak)
GM Arjun Erigaisi bt GM Peter Leko (HUN) (3:1 aggregate) GM R Praggnanandhaa lost to GM Daniil Dubov (FID) (1.5:2.5 aggregate) GM P Harikrishna bt GM Nils Grandelius (SWE) (2.5:1.5 aggregate).
