The FIDE World Cup 2025 in Panaji witnessed a dramatic day of chess, marked by both triumph and heartbreak for the Indian contingent. While four Indian players successfully advanced to the prestigious fourth round, the tournament saw the shocking elimination of World Champion Gukesh D.
Major Upset as Gukesh Bows Out
The biggest story of the third round was the exit of GM Gukesh D. After a draw with black pieces in the first game, Gukesh aggressively sought a win in the second. However, his strategy backfired spectacularly. His German opponent, GM Frederik Svane, resiliently navigated time pressure and turned the tables, eventually forcing Gukesh to resign in a knight-pawn ending. This result concluded the world champion's campaign at the event with a 0.5:1.5 aggregate score.
Indian Triumphs and Steady Progress
Amidst the disappointment, several Indian stars shone brightly. GM R Praggnanandhaa delivered a masterclass against Armenia's GM Robert Hovhannisyan. After holding a draw with black and surviving a difficult position, Praggnanandhaa seized a mid-game advantage. He executed a strategic plan, applying immense pressure with his queen and rook on the black king by move 27. His dominance was so complete that the Armenian Grandmaster resigned after 42 moves, handing Praggnanandhaa a 1.5:0.5 aggregate victory.
GM P Harikrishna became the first Indian to progress, needing only a quick draw against Belgium's GM Daniel Dardha after his first-game win with white pieces. GM Arjun Erigaisi and World Junior Champion GM Pranav V also secured their spots in the next round by holding draws with the black pieces against their respective opponents.
Tournament Landscape and What's Next
The tournament, which features 206 players from 82 countries competing for the Viswanathan Anand Cup in a single-elimination format, saw ten Indians start the third round. The challenge now intensifies for the remaining four. Arjun Erigaisi's next hurdle is a formidable one: Hungarian legend GM Peter Leko, who defeated GM Kirill Alekseenko in both games of Round 3.
The day also saw the elimination of a top foreign seed, as Anish Giri was defeated by GM Alexander Donchenko. Meanwhile, the hopes of three other Indians—GM Vidit Gujrathi, Karthik Venkataraman, and GM Narayanan S—will be decided in Sunday's tiebreaks after they drew both games in their matches.
Other Indian results from Round 3, Game 2 included losses for GM Diptayan Ghosh and GM Pranesh M, highlighting the fiercely competitive nature of this global chess spectacle.
