It was a day of contrasting emotions for the Indian contingent at the FIDE World Cup 2025, as a blend of seasoned campaigners and emerging stars made strong strides in the opening round.
Veteran GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly, along with GM Raunak Sadhwani, GM Karthik Venkataraman, and M Pranesh, secured their berths in the second round with clinical performances. Meanwhile, IM Aronyak Ghosh kept his hopes alive by producing one of the day’s biggest upsets defeating Polish Grandmaster Mateusz Bartel to force a tiebreak.
The World Cup, being held in Panaji, has brought together 206 players from 82 countries, all competing for the prestigious Viswanathan Anand Cup, named in honour of the Indian legend. The single-elimination format ensures that every game is decisive and for the Indian contingent, Sunday proved to be a day of breakthroughs and hard-fought resilience.
At 42, GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly continues to demonstrate why he remains one of India’s most enduring forces in classical chess. Entering the second game with a 1–0 lead against GM Ahmad Ahmadzada of Azerbaijan, Ganguly played with precision and patience despite having the black pieces. Knowing that Ahmadzada needed to win at all costs to stay alive, the Indian capitalized on his opponent’s overextension on the kingside.
Ganguly’s control over the center and timely pawn thrusts forced his rival into a defensive collapse. After just 28 moves, the veteran sealed victory to claim the match 2–0, becoming the first Indian to progress to the next round. He now faces an imposing challenge against GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France, one of the world’s most consistent top-10 players.
Karthik and Sadhwani Impress with Composed Wins
It was also a productive outing for GM Karthik Venkataraman, who delivered a well-calculated win over Cuba’s GM Roberto Garcia Pantoja. Having drawn the first game, Karthik displayed excellent endgame control in the second, capitalizing on Pantoja’s inaccuracies to force resignation after 39 moves.
His victory set up an intriguing all-Indian clash against GM Aravindh Chithambaram VR in Round 2 a match that promises high-quality tactical fireworks.
Equally impressive was GM Raunak Sadhwani, the 19-year-old prodigy from Nagpur. After a slightly shaky draw in his opener against FM Daniel Barrish of South Africa, Sadhwani bounced back strongly with the black pieces. Demonstrating remarkable maturity, he neutralized Barrish’s attacking attempts and then launched a decisive kingside offensive, clinching the win in 39 moves to advance 1.5–0.5.
Sadhwani’s composed performance reaffirmed his growing stature among India’s next-generation stars, particularly in rapid and knockout formats where mental discipline plays a decisive role.
Pranesh Advances Safely; Aronyak Stuns Bartel
While some victories came through attacking brilliance, M Pranesh opted for safety and control. The 19-year-old, who recently broke into the top 100 juniors, played a solid second game against IM Satbek Akhmedinov of Kazakhstan.
After simplifying to a rook-and-pawn endgame, both players agreed to a draw after 36 moves, ensuring Pranesh’s safe passage with a 1.5–0.5 result.
But the standout Indian performance of the day belonged to IM Aronyak Ghosh. After losing his opening game with the black pieces to Polish Grandmaster Mateusz Bartel, Aronyak responded with resilience and precision. Adopting a solid opening structure, he gradually built a positional advantage in the middle game before converting with flawless accuracy in 41 moves. The win tied their mini-match 1–1, forcing a rapid tiebreaker.
Ghosh’s result is particularly significant given Bartel’s experience as a four-time Polish Champion and Olympiad veteran. The young Indian’s composure under pressure showcased the tactical confidence and depth that has become synonymous with India’s new generation of chess talent.
Mixed Fortunes Across the Indian Camp
Elsewhere, several Indian players held their nerve to keep their campaigns alive through drawn matches that now head into tiebreaks.
GM Raja Rithvik R, GM Diptayan Ghosh, GM Lalit Babu MR, and GM Narayanan SL all drew their respective matches 1–1.
- Rithvik was held to a 30-move draw by Kazakhstan’s Kazybek Nogerbek, while
- Diptayan, playing white, could not find a breakthrough against China’s GM Peng Xiongjian despite having a spatial edge.
- Lalit Babu MR and Narayanan SL also split points in closely contested endgames, setting the stage for Monday’s rapid deciders.
Among other results, GM Iniyan Panneerselvam overcame GM Dylan Berdayes 1.5–0.5, while GM Pranav V completed a comfortable 2–0 win over Algeria’s Ala Eddine Boulrens.
However, it was the end of the road for a few. IM Himal Gusain, IM Harshavardhan GB, IM Neelash Saha, and GM Leon Luke Mendonca bowed out after losing their respective mini-matches.
Particularly disappointing was the exit of GM Divya Deshmukh, the reigning Women’s World Cup champion. The 19-year-old wildcard entrant faced Greek Grandmaster Stamatis Kourkoulos-Arditis and suffered a 0–2 defeat. After losing the first game with white, she needed a win to stay alive but fell short in a gruelling 73-move encounter, where her opponent’s extra pawn in the endgame proved decisive.
The FIDE World Cup 2025 continues to highlight both India’s depth in chess and the fine margins that separate victory from elimination. With 17 Indian players in the fray, the event has reaffirmed the nation’s position as one of the world’s fastest-growing chess powerhouses.
As the field narrows and the stakes rise, the performances of veterans like Ganguly alongside emerging stars such as Sadhwani, Pranesh, and Aronyak underline India’s remarkable generational balance where experience meets fearless youth.
With several players heading into tiebreaks and others set for high-profile clashes in Round 2, the coming days promise both drama and opportunity for the Indian contingent. For now, Panaji’s chess boards echo a simple truth the Indian march in global chess shows no signs of slowing down.
Key Indian Results (Round 1, Game 2):
- GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly bt GM Ahmad Ahmadzada (AZE) 2–0
- GM Raunak Sadhwani bt FM Daniel Barrish (RSA) 1.5–0.5
- GM Karthik Venkataraman bt GM Roberto Garcia Pantoja (CUB) 1.5–0.5
- M Pranesh bt IM Satbek Akhmedinov (KAZ) 1.5–0.5
- IM Aronyak Ghosh drew with GM Mateusz Bartel (POL) 1–1
- GM Iniyan Panneerselvam bt GM Dylan Berdayes (CUB) 1.5–0.5
- GM Divya Deshmukh lost to GM Stamatis Kourkoulos-Arditis (GRE) 0–2
