Panaji, Nov 8 (NationPress) GM R. Praggnanandhaa capitalized on a slight advantage he acquired during the middle game to defeat GM Robert Hovhannisyan from Armenia. This victory enabled four Indian players to secure their spots in the fourth round of the FIDE World Cup 2025 held in Panaji this Saturday, while World Champion Gukesh D faced elimination.

Praggnanandhaa, who had previously endured a lengthy tie-break to reach the third round, began with a draw in his first game with black. He soon found himself in a precarious position as Hovhannisyan seemed to neutralize the Indian's early edge. However, the third-highest-ranked Indian player established a definitive strategy and took command of the match by move 27, with his queen and rook applying pressure on the black king. Ultimately, the Armenian conceded defeat after 42 moves.

In total, 10 Indian players advanced to the third round of the FIDE World Cup 2025, which is structured as a single-elimination knockout tournament featuring 206 participants from 82 nations competing for the prestigious Viswanathan Anand Cup, named in honor of the Indian chess legend.

GM Harikrishna, who triumphed in his first game with white, was the first Indian to progress to the next round after quickly drawing against Belgium’s GM Daniel Dardha. He was soon joined by GM Arjun Erigaisi and World Junior Champion GM Pranav V, both of whom played conservatively with black pieces, resulting in drawn games.

Notably, Anish Giri, the highest-seeded international competitor in the tournament, was eliminated after losing his second game to GM Alexander Donchenko while playing with black pieces in 47 moves.

World champion Dommaraju Gukesh lost his third-round match against Frederik Svane. After drawing the initial game with black, the Indian aimed for victory in the second, but Svane adeptly escaped time pressure and forced Gukesh to resign in a knight-pawn ending.

Arjun will now compete against Hungarian GM Peter Leko, who defeated GM Kirill Alekseenko in both games of Round 3. Meanwhile, GM Vidit Gujrathi, Karthik Venkataraman, and GM Narayanan S will participate in tie-breaks on Sunday after drawing both games in this round.

Indian results (Round 3, Game 2):

GM Gukesh D lost to GM Frederik Svane (GER) (0.5:1.5 aggregate); GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov (UZB) drew with GM Arjun Erigaisi (0.5:1.5 aggregate); GM R Praggnanandhaa vs GM Robert Hovhannisyan (ARM) (1.5:0.5 aggregate); GM Daniel Dardha (BEL) drew with GM P Harikrishna (0.5:1.5 aggregate); GM Titas Stremavicius (LTU) drew GM Pranav V (0.5:1.5 aggregate); GM Grabriel Sargissian (ARM) bt GM Diptayan Ghosh (1.5:0.5 aggregate); GM Yu Yangyi (CHN) drew with GM Narayanan S (0.5:0.5 aggregate); GM Vidit Gujrathi drew with GM Sam Shankland (USA) (0.5:0.5 aggregate); GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac (ROU) drew with GM Karthik Venkatraman (0.5:0.5 aggregate); GM Pranesh M lost to GM Vincent Keymer (GER) (0.5:1.5 aggregate)