All posts tagged: FIDE World Cup 2025

Elite player, 2nd to world champions, and now team captain: P Harikrishna readies for new role at GCL with Mumba Masters | Chess News

Elite player, 2nd to world champions, and now team captain: P Harikrishna readies for new role at GCL with Mumba Masters | Chess News

Published by Webster

After shaping the world championship-winning campaigns of Gukesh Dommaraju and Ju Wenjun as their second, and then making it to the round of 16 of the wildly-volatile FIDE World Cup as a player last month, Pentala Harikrishna is currently readying himself to sport a third hat: that of a team captain for the Mumba Masters franchise in the third edition of the Global Chess League, that will begin in Mumbai from December 14. A team captain, like a captain in the Davis Cup team in tennis, does not play in games, but is in charge of overall strategy besides other intangible elements like player morale in the outfit. In a largely individualistic sport like chess, the GCL introduces a rare team dynamic which players only experience at Olympiads that happen once in two years or in European leagues. This makes the team captain’s role vital. In the past, GCL franchises have used team meals as a way to foster team culture and bonding, especially with players coming from different nationalities. “The first thing for me …

A corporate honcho, a chocolatier, a film-maker, a content-creator & a superfan in cycle

A corporate honcho, a chocolatier, a film-maker, a content-creator & a superfan in cycle

Published by Webster

In the world of chess, a sport experiencing exponential growth in India, the fans and followers are its lifeblood. The last few years have transformed chess into a mainstream phenomenon in this country. Fueled by the rise of young prodigies and a thriving ecosystem, major chess events now draw crowds of passionate fans. But there are a few unique enthusiasts who go beyond seeking autographs or selfies and are there to discover and fuel their own passions through the game they love. Lokesh Natoo is a chess lover who has successfully transitioned from an amateur player to a bona fide chess influencer, all while maintaining his corporate career. “I started playing chess at six when my mother taught me as a hobby,” Natoo shares. While he played in school and college, his priorities later shifted to academics, pursuing engineering and then an MBA. An avid follower of the game, Natoo began travelling to tournaments. What started as casual meet-ups, taking photos and selfies, soon evolved into a social media presence. This new career was born …

Chess: What makes the 2025 FIDE World Cup unforgiving and hard to predict

Chess: What makes the 2025 FIDE World Cup unforgiving and hard to predict

Published by Webster

Goa: “It is very hard to predict. This format is such that the youngsters will always have the advantage.” Those were the reigning women’s world rapid chess champion Koneru Humpy’s words during Round 5 of the 2025 FIDE World Cup at the Rio Resort here in Arpora last week. Just a few months ago, Humpy was in the final of the 2025 Women’s FIDE World Cup. It was a brutal tournament, where she had to stretch herself to the limit only to lose out to the young 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh in the title clash. “It is quite tough for the top-seeded players and most of the time I’ve seen them get eliminated quite early because the format is quite tricky,” said Humpy. This is exactly what has transpired in Goa with all the top seeds sent packing early. China’s Wei Yi is the only one among the top ten seeds to reach the semi-finals at the time of publishing this. The reigning world champion and top seeded Gukesh Dommaraju was knocked out in just the …

FIDE World Cup 2025: Arjun Erigaisi knocked out in quarters; Candidates dream shattered

FIDE World Cup 2025: Arjun Erigaisi knocked out in quarters; Candidates dream shattered

Published by Webster

India’s challenge at the 2025 FIDE World Cup came to an end on Wednesday after GM Arjun Erigaisi went down against China’s GM Wei Yi in the quarterfinal tiebreak in Goa. Arjun was the only Indian left in fray at the quarter-final stage and after drawing both the classical games, the tiebreak was always going to be a tricky contest. The 22-year-old from Warangal went for the French defense in the first tiebreak game with black and it looked like the Indian was in trouble in the middle game. But Wei’s error on the 27th move, choosing a rather safe move, allowed Arjun to mount a comeback and ensured that the game ended in a draw after 66 moves. Arjun, who had lost the quarter-finals tiebreak in the 2023 edition against compatriot R Praggnanandhaa, needed to break Wei’s Petrov defence to find a win in the second game with white. However, the Chinese stuck to his plan and had grabbed a winning advantage by move 28. Knowing that it was a fight for survival, Arjun …

As Arjun Erigaisi and Wei Yi play out a super quick draw, a question — Is classical chess over-theorised?

As Arjun Erigaisi and Wei Yi play out a super quick draw, a question — Is classical chess over-theorised?

Published by Webster

The quarterfinal between India’s lone hope and second seed, Arjun Erigaisi and China’s Wei Yi would have been a dream summit clash at the FIDE World Cup. After the carnage that eliminated 17 of the top 20 seeds by just the fifth round, this was the most anticipated last-eight clash. But the first Classical game, which began at 3 PM in Goa, was already over by 3:59 PM with Arjun and Wei Yi rushing through their exchanges, racing from the opening through the middle game and agreeing to a draw after just 31 moves. Arjun-Wei Yi was a prime example of objective perfection, with both players playing with over 99% accuracy, without giving an inch to the other. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW VIDEO While the result was anticlimactic, it was hardly surprising. The players followed the tournament’s prevailing trend, and their expected line was to minimise risk and play it safe. Two more quarterfinal clashes ended in a draw, with just the lone decisive result of the round coming in favour of Uzbek GM Nodirbek Yakubboev, …

Harikrishna exits in round 5 tiebreak

Harikrishna exits in round 5 tiebreak

Published by Webster

India’s challenge at the FIDE World Cup 2025 now rests solely on GM Arjun Erigaisi after GM P Harikrishna was eliminated in a hard-fought Round 5 tiebreak by GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara on Sunday. Harikrishna entered the tiebreak after drawing both classical games against the Peruvian Grandmaster. The first pair of rapid games (15 minutes each) also ended in draws, taking the match into the next stage of rapid games with a 10-minute time control. With the white pieces in the first 10-minute game, Harikrishna tried to seize the initiative and gained nearly a minute on the clock after 14 moves. However, Martinez responded with accurate counterplay. After Harikrishna traded queens, the Peruvian slowly steered the position into a favourable rook-and-pawn endgame, eventually converting the advantage in 59 moves. Facing a must-win scenario with black in the second rapid game, Harikrishna attempted to build pressure but could not break through, settling for a draw in 30 moves — a result that ended his World Cup campaign. Meanwhile, Arjun Erigaisi had already secured his place …

Daniil Dubov, who knocked out Pragg and bragged about his 10-min prep, crashes out in next round in rapid tiebreaks | Chess News

Daniil Dubov, who knocked out Pragg and bragged about his 10-min prep, crashes out in next round in rapid tiebreaks | Chess News

Published by Webster

Russian grandmaster Daniil Dubov — who bragged about using his cell phone for just 10 minutes to prepare for classical games against Praggnanandhaa and then defeated the Indian prodigy in tiebreaks — has crashed out of the FIDE World Cup after losing the tiebreaks to American GM Sam Shankland. Dubov is a former World Rapid Champion, but was knocked out by Shankland in the rapid tiebreak on Sunday after losing both his games in the 15-minute time control (with 10-second increments per move). Dubov has used the strategy of playing out draws, especially with white pieces, in classical games before defeating his opponents in the tiebreaks. How Daniil Dubov lost to Sam Shankland Game 1 of rapid tiebreak Game 2 of rapid tiebreak Story continues below this ad After his win over Praggnanandhaa, Dubov had revealed that he had spent just 10 minutes preparing for the classical games against the Indian. “Generally Praggnanandhaa didn’t show his best in this tournament, not only in this match. I would say it was very close but I think …

After the heartbreak of Toronto, Arjun Erigaisi finds himself two wins away from Candidates | Chess News

After the heartbreak of Toronto, Arjun Erigaisi finds himself two wins away from Candidates | Chess News

Published by Webster

In the 43 seconds that it takes Arjun Erigaisi to make up his mind and deliver the coup de grace on Levon Aronian’s FIDE World Cup campaign, you can trace exactly what stage the Indian prodigy’s thought process is at. First, comes the disbelief as his hand takes refuge in his hair thinking whether his opponent could have really blundered this evidently. Then, comes the hesitation as Arjun, arm outstretched over the board like a puppet master, wonders if there is some vicious optical illusion on the board that is playing tricks on him and is making him believe he’s about to enter the quarter-finals of the FIDE World Cup. After those 43 seconds, when Arjun finally hops his knight to f3 (38… Nh3), even Aronian smiles before offering his resignation. “It was a cute trick,” says Arjun describing a move that has as much flash as an Aronian shirt; a move that could have been defended, but not without the American having to give up significant material just to survive. INTERACTIVE: How Arjun Erigaisi …

Arjun Erigaisi, P Harikrishna draw opening games of round 5

Arjun Erigaisi, P Harikrishna draw opening games of round 5

Published by Webster

India’s remaining contenders at the FIDE World Cup 2025, GM Arjun Erigaisi and GM P Harikrishna, opened their Round 5 campaigns with solid draws on Friday, keeping their knockout hopes alive heading into the return games. Arjun, playing with white, pressed throughout his encounter against two-time World Cup champion Levon Aronian, but was unable to convert a slight advantage in a double-rook endgame. The 21-year-old controlled large phases of the middlegame and appeared to have Aronian under pressure when the Armenian-born star spent nearly 30 minutes on his 21st move. Aronian, however, defended accurately and steered the game toward equality, with the players agreeing to a draw after 41 moves. Harikrishna neutralises Alcantara; two Indians remain in the race for Candidate spots Harikrishna, facing the in-form GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara, opted for a risk-free approach with the black pieces. Well-prepared for the Peruvian’s opening choices, the Indian ensured there were no winning chances for his opponent. The game steered quickly into a balanced rook-and-pawn endgame, ending in a draw in 41 moves. Of the …

Daniil Dubov after beating Praggnanandhaa: ‘He failed to pose single problem with white despite probably spending day and night looking at stuff’ | Chess News

Daniil Dubov after beating Praggnanandhaa: ‘He failed to pose single problem with white despite probably spending day and night looking at stuff’ | Chess News

Published by Parlour News

Russian grandmaster Daniil Dubov, who sent home India’s R Praggnanandhaa from the FIDE World Cup in the fourth round tiebreaks on Thursday, revealed that he dislikes classical chess so much that he prepared for just 10 minutes for the two classical games against the Indian prodigy, who was a finalist at the last World Cup. Both classical games between Praggnanandhaa and Dubov ended in draws, thus pushing them to fight in the rapid tiebreaks on Thursday, where the former world rapid champion prevailed. Dubov also said that while Pragg spent “day and night looking at chess he had failed to pose a single problem” to him in their classical games. “Generally Praggnanandhaa didn’t show his best in this tournament, not only in this match. I would say it was very close but I think I had some little precious role in the match despite the will to make a draw with white pieces. I didn’t actually mind playing. But it’s just that with white against someone like Pragg who is prepared this well I actually …