India’s chess contingent has mounted a strong showing at the FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 in Goa, with three players from the country advancing to tie-breaks in Round 4. Veteran grandmaster Pentala Harikrishna and rising star Arjun Erigaisi both clinched their spots in the next phase, while fellow compatriot R. Praggnanandhaa also remains in contention. The progress comes after other Indian hopefuls — including Pranav Venkatesh and Karthik Venkataraman — were eliminated in the fourth round.
The World Cup 2025, hosted in Goa and featuring 206 competitors, is a pivotal event in the international chess calendar. In Round 4, Harikrishna overcame Sweden’s Nils Grandelius in the classical games and qualified for the tie-break stage, affirming his experience and resilience on the global stage. Arjun Erigaisi sealed his passage to the next round by defeating Hungary’s former world championship contender Peter Leko in a tense tie-break scenario. Meanwhile, Praggnanandhaa, having drawn his classical game with Russian GM Daniil Dubov, also advanced to the rapid tie-break stage.
In contrast, India’s hopes were dimmed by the exits of Pranav Venkatesh and Karthik Venkataraman. Venkatesh was defeated by Nodirbek Yakubboev of Uzbekistan, and Venkataraman bowed out to Vietnam’s Liem Quang Le. With 24 Indian players initially entered, the attrition rate has been steep, leaving only three of the original group in contention after Round 4.
The significance of these tie-break matches extends beyond mere survival: the top three finishers in this World Cup will qualify for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026, which in turn determines the challenger for the world championship. For India, a nation with growing ambition in elite chess, the success of its players in this event is a marker of its rising status.
As the tie-breaks continue on Thursday, the Indian trio of Harikrishna, Erigaisi and Praggnanandhaa carry forward the nation’s hopes at the FIDE World Cup 2025. Their advancement underscores the depth and competitiveness of Indian chess. With the stakes high and the pathway to the Candidates Tournament in view, their performance in the coming tie-breaks will be pivotal both for their individual careers and for India’s standing in global chess.
