Indian Chess Stars Battle Through to World Cup Tiebreaks
In a dramatic display of strategic prowess, Indian Grandmasters Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa and P Harikrishna kept their championship dreams alive at the FIDE World Cup 2025 by forcing tiebreaks in their fourth-round classical matches on Wednesday. All three players secured draws against formidable opponents, setting up thrilling deciders that will determine who advances to the round of 16.
Intense Battles on the Chessboard
Arjun Erigaisi, playing with the white pieces, engaged in a 36-move strategic duel against Hungary's legendary GM Peter Leko. The Indian prodigy opted for the Nimzo-Indian Defence and demonstrated excellent preparation in the opening phase, actually gaining time on the clock after just 16 moves. Despite pressing for advantages in the middlegame, Arjun eventually agreed to a draw when the position became balanced with multiple exchanges.
Leko later acknowledged Arjun's formidable approach, stating: "I am getting more and more in my preparations and I wasn't really afraid of Arjun's opening line. I knew that this b5 that I played is quite solid and there cannot be any miracle in this position. But over the board when Arjun is blitzing all his moves, I know that there is always some pressure. But it was more or less equal all the time."
Meanwhile, R Praggnanandhaa demonstrated his defensive mastery while handling the black pieces against GM Daniil Dubov. In a sharp encounter that lasted 30 moves, neither player could find a decisive breakthrough, leading to a peaceful conclusion that pushed their match into the tiebreak stage.
Harikrishna's Resilient Comeback
In perhaps the most tense encounter of the day, P Harikrishna found himself in serious trouble despite playing with white against Sweden's GM Nils Grandelius. The Indian veteran showed remarkable composure under pressure, navigating through difficult complications before stabilizing the position. The game reached a critical bishop-and-pawn endgame where Harikrishna's precise technique salvaged a draw after 38 hard-fought moves, extending his World Cup campaign to the tiebreaks.
The significance of Harikrishna's resilience was immediately apparent, as GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara had already secured his spot in the round of 16 following a quick 20-move draw with GM Alexey Sarana. The Peruvian star, who won his first game on Tuesday, now awaits the winner of the Harikrishna-Grandelius tiebreak encounter.
Mixed Fortunes for Indian Contingent
While three Indian Grandmasters celebrated their progression to tiebreaks, the campaign ended for young talent Pranav V. The world junior champion suffered defeat against Uzbekistan's GM Nodirbek Yakubboev in 38 moves, concluding his impressive run at the prestigious tournament.
The tiebreak matches for all remaining fourth-round encounters are scheduled for Thursday, promising high-stakes chess action as players battle for a place in the prestigious round of 16. The rapid and blitz formats will test not only the players' strategic understanding but also their nerves under extreme time pressure.
With three Indian stars still in contention, the nation's chess fans have plenty to look forward to as the FIDE World Cup 2025 enters its most critical phase. The performances of Erigaisi, Praggnanandhaa, and Harikrishna continue to highlight India's growing dominance in international chess.
