Indian chess continued its impressive showing at the FIDE World Cup 2025, with GM Narayanan S L, GM Diptayan Ghosh, and IM Aronyak Ghosh clinching their spots in the second round after a thrilling day of rapid tiebreak action in Panaji on Monday.
Following six Indian players’ progression on Sunday, the trio’s victories took India’s tally of second-round participants to nine, underlining the country’s growing dominance on the global chess stage.
Grandmaster S L Narayanan was clinical and confident as he overcame IM Steven Rojas of Peru 2–0 in the rapid segment after their classical games had ended in draws.
Playing with the black pieces in the first game, Narayanan displayed his renowned calm under pressure. He outmaneuvered Rojas in the middle game with superior positional understanding and converted the advantage into victory after 52 moves.
With momentum on his side, Narayanan made short work of the second game, wrapping it up in just 22 moves with white. The result not only sealed his place in the second round but also highlighted his adaptability across formats.
Speaking after the match, Narayanan said he had gone into the tiebreak confident of his rapid prowess.
“I thought I was a favourite in the tie-break. In the shorter format I am pretty strong,” he smiled. “It’s not just me saying that even when I check with ChatGPT for some motivation, it says I have the edge in rapid games! My opponent played extremely well in the classical rounds, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. But winning with black gave me confidence, and I followed up well with white.”
Narayanan now advances to face GM Nikita Vitiugov of England, a formidable opponent known for his deep theoretical preparation and solid defensive play.
On the adjacent board, GM Diptayan Ghosh showcased remarkable endurance and composure to defeat GM Peng Xiongjian of China 2–0 in their tiebreak.
The first game turned into a long, strategic battle lasting 70 moves, where Diptayan’s two advancing pawns proved decisive. His endgame conversion was textbook, creating dual promotion threats that forced Peng’s resignation.
In the return game, Peng pressed hard to equalize, but Diptayan held firm and turned the tables in 46 moves, sealing a clean 3–1 aggregate victory.
The 26-year-old from Kolkata now faces a monumental challenge in GM Ian Nepomniachtchi, the two-time World Championship challenger from Russia. Despite the daunting matchup, Diptayan’s form and fighting spirit make him a dangerous underdog.
Aronyak’s Comeback Story
If Narayanan and Diptayan impressed with control, IM Aronyak Ghosh inspired with courage. The 21-year-old from Kolkata pulled off one of the most remarkable comebacks of the tournament so far.
After upsetting GM Mateusz Bartel of Poland in the classical second game on Sunday to force a tiebreak, Aronyak carried that momentum into the rapid rounds. Playing white in the first game, he produced a near-flawless attacking display pinning Bartel’s queen and king in a tight corner and forcing resignation after just 19 moves.
However, Bartel struck back in the second rapid game to level the score and take the match into the second stage of tiebreaks. It was here that Aronyak showed nerves of steel.
He won the first of the 10+10 games in 54 moves, demonstrating excellent time management and endgame precision, before punishing Bartel’s mistakes in the second, wrapping up the contest in a brisk 20 moves to complete a 2–0 victory (aggregate 4–2).
With this result, Aronyak sealed a memorable berth in the second round, where he will face American powerhouse GM Levon Aronian one of the most creative players in modern chess.
The FIDE World Cup 2025, featuring 206 players from 82 countries, is being held in a knockout format, with competitors battling for the prestigious Viswanathan Anand Cup. The top 50 seeds received byes into the second round, while the rest had to fight through a grueling opening phase.
With Narayanan, Diptayan, and Aronyak joining the likes of Surya Shekhar Ganguly, Pranav V, Raunak Sadhwani, M Pranesh, Karthik Venkataraman, and Iniyan Panneerselvam, India now has a record nine players through to Round 2.
Among them, Karthik Venkataraman and Aravindh Chithambaram are set to face each other on Tuesday, guaranteeing at least one Indian berth in the third round.
Monday’s tiebreaks also saw mixed fortunes for the remaining Indian players. GM Lalit Babu MR and GM Raja Rithvik R fought valiantly, drawing both of their rapid games to finish their matches level at 3–3 on aggregate. Both will now move into the blitz phase to decide qualification.
Rithvik, who lost the first rapid game against Kazybek Nogerbek of Kazakhstan, displayed great character to bounce back and win the second with the black pieces in 52 moves, keeping his hopes alive.
However, IM Aronyak Ghosh’s progress came at the expense of another thrilling turnaround, while Lalit Babu was forced to settle for draws in both games against GM Max Warmerdam of the Netherlands.
As the competition intensifies, the second round promises mouth-watering clashes. Several Indian players will face elite opposition, including Narayanan vs Vitiugov, Diptayan vs Nepomniachtchi, and Aronyak vs Aronian all featuring classic battles between youth and experience.
For Indian chess, this campaign is already shaping into one of the nation’s most successful World Cup showings. With multiple players advancing through varied routes classical, rapid, and blitz the depth and resilience of India’s new generation are on full display.
What stands out is the balance between veterans like Ganguly and the fearlessness of emerging talents like Aronyak and Pranesh. As the tournament progresses, India’s presence on the world stage continues to grow louder a reflection of both its strong foundation and its unstoppable new wave of champions.
Indian Results (Round 1 – Tiebreaks):
•GM Diptayan Ghosh bt GM Peng Xiongjian (CHN) 2–0 (aggregate 3–1)
•GM Narayanan SL bt IM Steven Rojas (PER) 2–0 (aggregate 3–1)
•IM Aronyak Ghosh bt GM Mateusz Bartel (POL) 2–0 (aggregate 4–2)
•GM Lalit Babu MR drew with GM Max Warmerdam (NED) 1–1 (aggregate 3–3)
•GM Raja Rithvik R drew with Kazybek Nogerbek (KAZ) 1–1 (aggregate 3–3)
