Arjun Erigaisi and P Harikrishna Lead India's Charge in FIDE World Cup 2025 Round 3; Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, and Vidit Hold Firm

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Panaji, Nov 7: India's strong presence at the FIDE World Cup 2025 continued to shine in Panaji as GM Arjun Erigaisi and GM Pentala Harikrishna registered emphatic victories in their third-round openers, while world champion Gukesh D, R Praggnanandhaa, and Vidit Gujrathi held solid draws with the black pieces on Friday (November 7).

The performances underline India's dominance in global chess and the depth of its grandmaster pool - with 10 Indians having advanced to Round 3 in the single-elimination knockout tournament that features 206 players from 82 countries, all vying for the prestigious Viswanathan Anand Cup.

Arjun Erigaisi's Clinical Precision

Arjun Erigaisi, the top-ranked Indian in the tournament and one of the youngest stars on the global stage, produced a near-perfect display to outplay Uzbekistan's GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov in just 30 moves.

Playing with the white pieces, Arjun dictated the pace early, neutralised counterplay efficiently, and transitioned into a winning middlegame without allowing any tactical chaos. His victory was so commanding that the only extended pause he took - a 10-minute think - came when he was deciding how to finish off the game most efficiently.

It was Arjun's third consecutive victory in the competition after getting a first-round bye, underlining his growing maturity and consistency at the highest level. The 21-year-old now sits comfortably ahead in his mini-match and needs just a draw in the return game to move into Round 4.

Harikrishna's Masterclass in Preparation

Earlier in the day, P Harikrishna became the first Indian to score a win in Round 3 after stunning Belgium's GM Daniel Dardha in just 25 moves. The veteran grandmaster, known for his deep opening preparation, showcased why experience still counts for so much at this level.

Deploying a sharp Sicilian Classical Variation, Harikrishna's preparation forced Dardha into uncomfortable territory. Within minutes, the Belgian was caught off guard by a tactical idea that Harikrishna had prepared but only half-remembered during the game - a testament to his intuition and composure under pressure.

"I had prepared something new," Harikrishna said post-match. "There were some nice tricks that happened, and a few moves my opponent missed. Basically, he didn't realise the danger properly in the position."

The victory, reminiscent of his peak years in elite tournaments, gave the 39-year-old a crucial advantage heading into the second leg, where a draw with black would see him progress.

Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa and Vidit Hold Ground

The rest of India's top trio - Gukesh D, R Praggnanandhaa, and Vidit Gujrathi - opted for solidity in their first games with black pieces, steering their contests into balanced positions and ensuring there were no unpleasant surprises.

World Champion Gukesh D drew comfortably against GM Frederik Svane of Germany, choosing a pragmatic approach in the opening.

R Praggnanandhaa, who has built a reputation as one of the best prepared young grandmasters on the circuit, split the point with GM Robert Hovhannisyan of Armenia.

Vidit Gujrathi, fresh off a gritty second-round win over Argentine prodigy Faustino Oro, held GM Sam Shankland of the USA to a draw in a well-fought positional duel.

These results mean that all three will play with the white pieces in the second game - giving them a psychological and strategic edge as they aim to convert their half points into full points and reach Round 4.

India's Golden Generation in Full Force

The sheer number of Indians making deep runs in the tournament highlights the country's transformation into a global chess powerhouse. From veterans like Harikrishna and Vidit to young stars like Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun, the balance of experience and youth is shaping India's modern chess era.

Note: Table lists Game 1 results from Round 3 as reported up to 7pm local time on November 7.

Arjun and Harikrishna's wins put them in the driver's seat for their respective matches; both will have the advantage of playing the second game with black, where defensive resilience and practical handling of time trouble can be decisive. The drawn games by Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa and Vidit leave those ties finely poised and set up intriguing second games.