Chess World Cup: Praggnanandhaa's Exit Leaves Arjun, Harikrishna to Carry India's Hopes
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Mumbai: In a surprise twist, only two Indian players, Arjun Erigaisi and Pentala Harikrishna, have qualified for the fifth round of the ongoing FIDE World Cup in Goa. This comes after Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, the world No.7, was eliminated by Russian GM Daniil Dubov in a 2.5-1.5 win. Harikrishna's Journey to Redemption Pentala Harikrishna's remarkable run to the fifth round is seen as a testament to his dedication and perseverance. Once a chess prodigy, Harikrishna had become the second Indian man to win the Junior World Championship title in 2004. However, he had been overshadowed by the younger guard in recent years. His recent performances, including working as a second for Gukesh Dommaraju's World Championship win, have shown that his value remains high. Harikrishna's daring move in the second round against Arseniy Nesterov, where he sacrificed his queen at the eighth move, has been hailed as one of the most remarkable moves of the tournament. This moment of daring seems to have given him a boost to progress in the competition. Arjun Erigaisi Finds Rhythm Joining Harikrishna in the fifth round is world No.6 and India No.1 Arjun Erigaisi. Erigaisi had a strong start to the tournament, winning his first three matches. However, he faced a tough opponent in the fourth round, Peter Leko, and had to win both rapid matches to progress. Erigaisi's efficiency in the rapid games has put him in a strong position to make it to the Candidates Tournament. Praggnanandhaa's Exit Praggnanandhaa's time in the World Cup came to an end at the hands of Dubov, who used his experience as a Rapid Chess World Champion to outmaneuver the Indian player. Praggnanandhaa had been error-prone throughout the tournament, and Dubov's strategy of making draws with white and playing aggressively with black proved to be the key to his victory. Despite his loss, Praggnanandhaa is still expected to make it to the Candidates event as the 2025 Circuit Winner. For Arjun and Harikrishna, the hunt continues as they look to carry India's hopes in the World Cup.
