GMs Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa played solid draws in the FIDE World Cup 2025 fourth round. P Harikrishna also drew to force a tiebreak. Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara and Levon Aronian advanced to the next round.
GM Arjun Erigaisi and GM R Praggnanandhaa played out solid draws while P Harikrishna saved the day after finding himself in a difficult position to head into a tiebreak in the fourth round of the FIDE World Cup 2025 here on Wednesday, as per a release from FIDE.
First Players Qualify for Round of 16
Arjun accepted a draw after 36 moves against the experienced GM Peter Leko of Hungary with white pieces, Praggnanandhaa split the point after 30 moves against GM Daniil Dubov while Harikrishna also drew after 38 moves. GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara, who has won with black pieces on Tuesday, became the first player to advance to the round of 16 after he went for a threefold repetition and takes a draw against GM Alexey Sarana in 20 moves. He will now face the winner of the match between GM P Harikrishna and GM Nils Grandelius of Sweden. Also advancing to the next round was two-time champion GM Levon Aronian after he drew the second game in 35 moves with black against GM Radoslaw Wojtaszek.
Focus on Indian Grandmasters
Among the five Indians in fray in the fourth round, all eyes were on Arjun and Praggnanandhaa on the top boards. Arjun opted for the Nimzo Indian opening with white against Leko and looked like he was prepared quite well as he gained time on the clock after 16 moves. But the Hungarian defended resolutely and the highest ranked Indian opted to trade queens on the 20th move after thinking for 26 moves. He tried to push ahead thereafter but could not find a breakthrough.
“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,” said Leko after the match, as quoted from a release by FIDE.
Praggnanandhaa holds Dubov
Praggnanandhaa was also satisfied with a draw in 30 moves with black against GM Daniil Dubov. The Indian will now start with black pieces against the former World Rapid Champion in the first game.
Harikrishna forces tiebreak
In the match between Harikrishna and Grandelius, the Indian looked under pressure despite playing white. But he kept it cool and forced a draw in a bishop-pawn endgame.
Pranav V knocked out
Meanwhile, world junior champion Pranav V, playing black, was knocked out of the tournament after he lost the second game against GM Nodirbek Yakubboev of Uzbekistan in 38 moves. (ANI)
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)