The fourth round of the FIDE World Cup 2025 produced another day of intense battles as India’s top three grandmasters Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, and P Harikrishna held their nerve to secure draws and force tiebreaks in Panaji on Wednesday.
While Arjun and Praggnanandhaa both played solidly to share points against elite opposition, Harikrishna survived a tense endgame to keep his campaign alive. With the classical phase concluding in stalemates, all three will now return to the board on Thursday for rapid and blitz tiebreaks to decide who advances to the round of 16.
Read Articles Without Ads On Your IndiaSportsHub App. Download Now And Stay Updated
India’s highest-ranked player GM Arjun Erigaisi continued his steady run, holding Hungary’s veteran GM Peter Leko to a draw with the white pieces. Arjun opened with the Nimzo-Indian and demonstrated strong preparation early on, gaining time on the clock and maintaining a spatial edge through the middlegame.
However, Leko known for his defensive precision neutralized the initiative efficiently. The queens were traded by move 20 after a long think from Arjun, and despite probing for a breakthrough, the 22-year-old Indian could not create tangible winning chances. The players agreed to a draw after 36 moves, leaving their two-game classical mini-match tied 1–1.
Leko later admitted feeling the heat during the opening phase.
“I knew that this b5 that I played is quite solid and there cannot be any miracle in this position,” said Leko after the game. “But over the board when Arjun is blitzing all his moves, there is always some pressure. Still, it was more or less equal all the time.”
The result means Arjun will now look to replicate his 2023 World Cup run, where he impressed in rapid tiebreaks, when the two resume their duel on Thursday.
Praggnanandhaa solid against Dubov
Playing black against the creative and unpredictable GM Daniil Dubov, R Praggnanandhaa adopted a pragmatic approach. The Indian teenager opted for a solid setup, avoiding complications and steering the game into balanced territory. The 30-move encounter never drifted far from equality, with both players demonstrating accurate calculation and sound structure management. Praggnanandhaa’s disciplined display ensured there were no slip-ups, and the game was drawn shortly after the first time control.
The 19-year-old Chennai star will now face Dubov again in the tiebreaks this time starting with the black pieces as he seeks to return to the round of 16 for the second consecutive World Cup.
The most dramatic Indian game of the day came from P Harikrishna, who found himself under sustained pressure against Sweden’s GM Nils Grandelius despite having white. After being pushed back in the middlegame, Harikrishna showed immense resilience to steer the position into a bishop-and-pawn ending. There, precise calculation and calm defense helped the Indian veteran neutralize Grandelius’ advantage. The draw, agreed after 38 moves, means Harikrishna has kept his campaign alive, though he will need to raise his level in the faster time controls to progress further.
Elsewhere, GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara became the first player to reach the round of 16 after forcing a quick 20-move draw through a threefold repetition against GM Alexey Sarana, having already won the first classical game. The Peruvian will now face the winner of the Harikrishna–Grandelius tiebreak.
Two-time World Cup champion GM Levon Aronian also advanced after a solid draw with black against GM Radoslaw Wojtaszek, wrapping up the match 1.5–0.5.
Tough exits for Pranav and Karthik
India’s youngest participant, GM Pranav V, exited the tournament after a 38-move loss to Uzbekistan’s GM Nodirbek Yakubboev in the second classical game. The World Junior Champion, who had impressed earlier with his aggressive play, was unable to recover from an early structural weakness and bowed out 0.5–1.5 on aggregate.
Meanwhile, GM Karthik Venkataraman also bowed out, losing 0.5–1.5 to Vietnam’s GM Le Quang Liem after being unable to find an advantage in his must-win second game.
India’s results Round 4 (Game 2)
- GM Arjun Erigaisi drew with GM Peter Leko (HUN) – (1:1 aggregate)
- GM Daniil Dubov (FID) drew with GM R Praggnanandhaa – (1:1 aggregate)
- GM P Harikrishna drew with GM Nils Grandelius (SWE) – (1:1 aggregate)
- GM Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB) beat GM Pranav V – (1.5:0.5 aggregate)
- GM Le Quang Liem (VIE) beat GM Karthik Venkataraman – (1.5:0.5 aggregate)
With three Indians still in contention and all set for tiebreaks, Thursday promises to be another thrilling day in Panaji. The rapid games often a test of nerve as much as skill will decide whether Arjun, Praggnanandhaa, or Harikrishna can keep India’s hopes alive in the final 16 of the 2025 FIDE World Cup.
