Chess World Cup: World champion Gukesh out, 3 Indians in tie-breaks

Panaji: GM R. Praggnanandhaa leveraged a slight middle-game advantage to defeat GM Robert Hovhannisyan of Armenia, as four Indians advanced to the fourth round of the FIDE World Cup 2025 in Panaji on Saturday, while World Champion Dommaraju Gukesh was eliminated.

Praggnanandhaa, who had previously survived a long tiebreak in Round 2 and drew his first game with black in Round 3, faced a challenging position as Hovhannisyan appeared to neutralise his early advantage. However, the third-highest-ranked Indian executed a clear plan, pressuring the black king with his queen and rook by move 27. Hovhannisyan eventually resigned after 42 moves.

A total of 10 Indians reached the third round of the FIDE World Cup 2025, a single-elimination tournament featuring 206 players from 82 countries competing for the prestigious Viswanathan Anand Cup.

GM P. Harikrishna, who won his first game with white, became the first Indian to progress to Round 4 after drawing the second game against Belgium’s GM Daniel Dardha. He was soon joined by GM Arjun Erigaisi and World Junior Champion GM Pranav V, who also played conservatively with black, splitting points in their respective matches.

In other results, top-seeded foreign player Anish Giri was ousted after losing the second game against GM Alexander Donchenko in 47 moves. World champion Gukesh lost his third-round match to Frederik Svane, resigning in a knight-pawn ending after failing to convert his second-game advantage.

Arjun Erigaisi will now face Hungarian GM Peter Leko, who defeated GM Kirill Alekseenko in both games of Round 3. Meanwhile, GM Vidit Gujrathi, GM Karthik Venkataraman, and GM Narayanan S will contest tiebreaks on Sunday after drawing both their Round 3 games.

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Indian Results – Round 3 (Game 2):

GM Gukesh D lost to GM Frederik Svane (GER) (0.5:1.5)

GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov (UZB) drew with GM Arjun Erigaisi (0.5:1.5)

GM R Praggnanandhaa beat GM Robert Hovhannisyan (ARM) (1.5:0.5)

GM Daniel Dardha (BEL) drew with GM P Harikrishna (0.5:1.5)

GM Titas Stremavicius (LTU) drew with GM Pranav V (0.5:1.5)

GM Grabriel Sargissian (ARM) beat GM Diptayan Ghosh (1.5:0.5)

GM Yu Yangyi (CHN) drew with GM Narayanan S (0.5:0.5)

GM Vidit Gujrathi drew with GM Sam Shankland (USA) (0.5:0.5)

GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac (ROU) drew with GM Karthik Venkataraman (0.5:0.5)

GM Pranesh M lost to GM Vincent Keymer (GER) (0.5:1.5)

With IANS inputs