Indian Grandmaster Karthik Venkataraman Triumphs in World Cup Thriller
Indian chess fans celebrated a significant victory on Sunday as Grandmaster Karthik Venkataraman secured his place in the fourth round of the prestigious FIDE World Cup 2025 being held in Panaji. The talented player overcame Romanian GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac in a gripping encounter that went down to the wire.
Strategic Victory in Tiebreaker
The crucial moment arrived during the second tiebreaker game where Karthik, playing with black pieces, demonstrated exceptional endgame skills. He masterfully utilized his bishop advantage to systematically corner Deac's king, forcing resignation after 43 moves. This decisive victory came after the first rapid game had ended in a draw, with Karthik handling the white pieces in that encounter.
Reflecting on his performance, Karthik shared: "The classical game against Deac was not too well but I somehow managed to defend. But in both the rapid games I played well. I don't know if I was objectively winning in the first game but I was clearly better. Second game also it was smooth."
The Indian champion also highlighted the unique pressure of the knockout format, noting: "Chess players are not used to playing this kind of format. Normally it is Swiss or round robin and one can relax a bit. But here you are always under pressure that you can be eliminated and that pressure is a lot to handle."
Indian Contingent's Mixed Fortunes
Karthik's achievement means that five Indian players will compete in the fourth round of the tournament, now known as the Viswanathan Anand Cup. This strong showing comes after Monday's rest day, with three Indian players having secured spots in the Candidate Sports tournament.
However, the day brought disappointment for two other Indian competitors. GM Vidit Gujrathi experienced a heartbreaking elimination despite winning his first rapid game against American Sam Shankland in 75 moves. The turning point came when Vidit lost the second game in 49 moves after making a critical queen exchange error under time pressure. The match proceeded to a second set of rapid games where Vidit ultimately lost the sixth game while playing with white pieces in 61 moves.
Similarly, Indian player Narayanan SL exited the tournament after losing an epic 125-move marathon with black pieces against Chinese GM Yu Yangyi. A draw in the second game confirmed Narayanan's elimination from the competition.
Karthik's Impressive Tournament Run
Karthik, a two-time National Champion, has been building momentum throughout the tournament. His victory against Deac follows an earlier success where he eliminated fellow Indian player Aravindh Chithambaram in the second round. This consistent performance establishes him as one of India's most promising chess talents.
The Indian Grandmaster now prepares to face his next challenge against Le Quang Liem of Vietnam in what promises to be another exciting encounter in the fourth round.
Indian Results from Round 3 Tiebreakers:
- GM Karthik Venkataraman defeated GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac (ROU) 2.5-1.5
- GM Narayanan SL lost to GM Yu Yangyi (CHN) 1.5:2.5
- GM Vidit Gujrathi lost to GM Sam Shankland (USA) 2.5:3.5
