A home FIDE World Cup that began with great deal of enthusiasm for the Indian contingent was dealt another sombering blow after last iteration’s finalist, R Praggnanandhaa, was knocked out in the fourth round tiebreaks by Russia’s Daniil Dubov on Thursday.
Dubov’s strategy was as unorthodox as it was deliberate. One of chess’s most creative minds, ironically, he adopted an approach that seemed both tedious and risky. For the third straight round, Dubov effectively conceded the classical games, not even remotely playing for a win. Instead, he shut down the board, forcing draws to steer his opponents toward his preferred territory – the shorter time controls where he holds a decisive advantage over most of the field.
For Praggnanandhaa, the task of beating the former World Rapid Champion in his favoured format was always going to be a formidable challenge. It became even tougher when the Indian prodigy agreed to a draw in the first 15+10-minute tiebreak game after a mere five minutes and 12 moves. Dubov had laid a trap, and Praggnanandhaa had walked directly into it.
Story continues below this ad
ALSO READ | FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 Highlights, Round 4 Tiebreaks: Praggnanandhaa knocked out; Arjun Erigaisi, Harikrishna reach Round 5
The Russian grandmaster had anticipated that Praggnanandhaa, armed with the white pieces, would be too ambitious to resist. That was precisely where he planned to strike.
“I actually told my friends that this is the strategy; we make draws with white and with black we actually play because he’s (Praggnanandhaa) always ambitious with white. And the same happened today,” Dubov told broadcasters after the win. “It’s not that I was scared or wanted to play blitz so much, it is just that I realised I will probably have better chances with black in the long run. He tried to play but I believe he got outplayed frankly and somehow I managed to deliver.”
Arjun Erigaisi beat Peter Leko in World Cup Round 4. (PHOTO: FIDE/Michal Walusza)
The plan worked to perfection. Dubov bided his time with the black pieces and pounced when Praggnanandhaa overreached with white. The 2023 World Cup finalist fought to stay afloat, setting small traps even in a losing endgame, but outsmarting a mind like Dubov’s proved a bridge too far. By the 53rd move, Praggnanandhaa resigned.
Story continues below this ad
Dubov suggested that his opponent was not at his peak throughout the event. “I believe generally he (Praggnanandhaa) didn’t show his best in this tournament, not just only in this match. It was very close, but I think I had some precious roles and in the match despite the will to make a draw with white, I didn’t actually mind playing really. It’s just that with white against someone who is prepared this well, I actually don’t know how to get out of the opening without taking too much risk,” he said.
The loss narrowed the Indian contingent to just two players from an initial host-nation contingent of 24. Arjun Erigaisi brought an end to the impressive run of former World Championship finalist Peter Leko. The Hungarian, now semi-retired and better known as a commentator and trainer for German prodigy Vincent Keymer, had defied expectations, consistently withstanding the pressure applied by the younger generation before falling to Arjun.
Pentala Harikrishna reached Round 5 of Chess World Cup 2025 after beating Nils Grandelius. (PHOTO: FIDE/Michal Walusza)
Arjun entered the tiebreak as the favourite. In the first game, playing with black, he secured a healthy time advantage out of the opening. He soon went a pawn up and methodically tightened the screws to convert his advantage. The following game was a must-win for Leko with black, but Arjun faced no real troubles, eventually defeating the 46-year-old veteran in two straight games.
The other Indian to survive was Pentala Harikrishna. After two tense classical games – in which his opponent, Swedish Grandmaster Nils Grandelius, had a clear opportunity to win the second – the Indian veteran knew it was time to change the course of the match. First, he escaped from a precarious position, displaying his exemplary endgame technique to salvage a draw. Then, in the second 15+10 rapid game, that same endgame mastery allowed him to snatch victory, becoming only the second Indian to advance to the Round of 16.
Story continues below this ad
A difficult challenge now awaits both Indians in the fifth round. Arjun is set to face two-time World Cup winner Levon Aronian, while Harikrishna will lock horns with the in-form Mexican Grandmaster, José Eduardo Martínez Alcántara.
Results (Indians):
Arjun Erigaisi beat Peter Leko (HUN); R Praggnanandhaa lost to Daniil Dubov (FID); Pentala Harikrishna beat Nils Grandelius (SWE).
