India’s last two survivors at the FIDE World Cup 2025 GM Arjun Erigaisi and GM P Harikrishna produced composed, calculated performances as both settled for draws in the opening game of Round 5 on Friday.
With the field narrowing rapidly and Candidates spots on the line, the Indian duo ensured they remain firmly in contention heading into the return leg. Arjun, playing white against two-time World Cup champion GM Levon Aronian, pressed early and looked poised to test the veteran’s defensive resolve. The 21-year-old built up a small but promising edge, steering the game into a double-rook endgame where his central pressure and more active king seemed capable of causing trouble.
Aronian, though, is not a two-time champion without reason. The Armenian-born star was visibly under pressure his 30-minute think on move 21 hinted at the critical nature of the position and yet, he navigated the complications with trademark calm. Once he found the precise defensive setup, the advantage slipped away from Arjun, and after 41 moves the players agreed to split the point.
Despite the result, Arjun will take confidence from the fact that he managed to put Aronian on the back foot with white. The challenge now escalates, as he faces the experienced campaigner with black in the second game an encounter that could determine whether the tie heads to tiebreaks.
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If Arjun’s game revolved around pressure and counter-pressure, Harikrishna’s encounter with GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara was shaped by clarity and control. Facing the Peruvian “giant killer,” who has already claimed multiple higher-rated scalps in the tournament, Harikrishna arrived well prepared with black.
The Indian GM neutralised Alcantara’s opening ideas almost immediately, steering the game into simplified structures without offering his opponent any tactical chances. With pieces coming off quickly, the players transitioned to a rook-and-pawn endgame where neither side could make meaningful progress. After 41 moves, the draw was a natural conclusion. The opening day of Round 5 reflected the growing caution across the top boards. At the time of reporting, six of the eight matches had ended in draws a sign of the tightly contested battles as players inch closer to the tournament’s decisive phase.
For India, the story of the World Cup has already been dramatic. A record 24 Indian players began this year’s event, part of a massive field of 206 players from 82 countries all vying for the prestigious Viswanathan Anand Trophy. Now, with only Arjun and Harikrishna left in the draw, the focus sharpens on their performances in these high-stakes knockout clashes.
Both players now move into the second classical game with everything to play for. A win guarantees a spot in the quarterfinals; a draw will push the ties into rapid tiebreakers territory where both Indians have proven credentials.
Indian Results – Round 5, Game 1
• GM Arjun Erigaisi drew with GM Levon Aronian — 0.5–0.5
• GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara drew with GM P Harikrishna — 0.5–0.5
