Arjun Erigaisi Secures Quick Draw in FIDE World Cup, Eyes Semi-Final Berth

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Mumbai: Arjun Erigaisi, India's lone representative in the FIDE World Cup in Goa, navigated a stress-free draw against China's Wei Yi in the first classical game of their quarter-final on Monday. The Indian Grandmaster, seeded second, employed the black pieces and capitalized on Wei's cautious approach, securing a draw in just 59 minutes and 31 moves. Erigaisi gained over five minutes on the clock, bolstering his chances of reaching the semi-finals and potentially qualifying for the 2026 Candidates tournament. With a spot in the semi-finals within reach, Erigaisi will face Wei again on Tuesday, this time with the white pieces. Their previous encounters, at the 2025 Norway Chess, ended in draws, but Erigaisi emerged victorious in the Armageddon tie-breaks. In contrast, Uzbek Grandmaster Nodirbek Yakubboev secured a decisive win over German Grandmaster Alexander Donchenko, the only result of the day. Meanwhile, Indian Grandmaster Pentala Harikrishna was eliminated by the 57th-seed on Sunday in the tie-breaks of Round 5.