Round 5 Highlights
In the FIDE World Cup 2025, Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi struggled to penetrate the defense of GM Levon Aronian, resulting in a draw. Meanwhile, GM P. Harikrishna quickly settled for a draw in his opening game of Round 5 on Friday. Playing as white, Arjun was unable to capitalize on a slight edge during the double rook endgame, leading to a split of points after 41 moves.
Earlier, Harikrishna showcased a solid performance with black pieces, effectively neutralizing the threats posed by the formidable GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara, who had previously eliminated several strong opponents. A total of 24 Indian players are competing in this prestigious tournament, which features 206 participants from 82 nations vying for the Viswanathan Anand Trophy. After four rounds, only two Indian players remain in contention for the title and the coveted Candidate spots.
Match Details
On Friday, Arjun aimed to take advantage against two-time champion Aronian while playing white. It appeared that Aronian was in a precarious position, taking nearly 30 minutes to make his 21st move. However, he managed to navigate through the difficulties and played solidly, entering the next game with a theoretical edge as he would again play with white pieces.
Harikrishna, on the other hand, faced no significant challenges against Alcantara, quickly transitioning to a rook-pawn endgame before agreeing to a draw after 41 moves.
As of the latest updates, six out of the eight matches had concluded in draws.
Indian Results (Round 5, Game 1)
GM Arjun Erigaisi vs. GM Levon Aronian: 0.5 – 0.5
GM Jose Eduardo Martínez Alcantara vs. GM P Harikrishna: 0.5 – 0.5
