In a significant setback for Indian chess, veteran Grandmaster Pentala Harikrishna was eliminated from the FIDE World Cup 2025 on Sunday, November 16. His campaign in Goa came to an end after a hard-fought defeat to Mexico's Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara in the fifth-round tiebreaks.
End of the Road for Harikrishna
This result marks the 23rd Indian elimination from the prestigious tournament, leaving Arjun Erigaisi as the host nation's only remaining representative. Harikrishna's exit is particularly poignant given his impressive run, where he was one of only two Indians, alongside Erigaisi, to advance to the fifth round.
His journey included notable victories over several strong opponents. He successfully overcame the reigning Russian champion, Arseniy Nesterov, in the second round. He continued his momentum by defeating Belgium's Daniel Dardha and Swedish Grandmaster Nils Grandelius.
A Missed Opportunity with Major Stakes
The loss against Martinez carries significant consequences beyond the tournament. Had Harikrishna triumphed, he would have been just one round away from virtually securing a spot in the coveted Candidates tournament. The stakes are incredibly high in this World Cup, as the top three finishers will qualify for the 2026 Candidates in Cyprus. The winner of that event earns the right to challenge the reigning Classical World Champion, India's own D. Gukesh.
Jose Martinez's Stunning Run
On the other side of the board, Jose Martinez, popularly known as "Jospem" in online chess communities, is enjoying a spectacular tournament. His performance in Goa has been a giant-killing spree. After dispatching South Korea's Isaak Huh and Serbia's Velimir Ivic in the early stages, he delivered a major upset by stunning one of the heavy favourites, Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Abdusattorov, with two straight wins in the classical section.
His dominant form continued against another Serbian player, Alexey Sarana. Martinez won the first game of the fourth round for his third consecutive classical victory and outmanoeuvred his opponent so completely in the return game that he was able to secure a draw, becoming the first player to confirm his spot in Round 5.
The Road Ahead for the Last Indian
All Indian hopes now rest on Arjun Erigaisi, the event's highest-seeded player. His path forward, however, is a formidable one. In the quarterfinals, he is set to face the seventh seed, China's Wei Yi, promising a high-stakes clash of titans.
Meanwhile, the in-form Jose Martinez will take on Uzbekistan's Javokhir Sindarov in his own quarterfinal match, as he continues his remarkable journey in the FIDE World Cup 2025.
