FIDE World Cup: Indian Stars Erigaisi, Praggnanandhaa & Harikrishna Secure Tiebreak Spots

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In the ongoing FIDE World Cup in Goa, Indian chess stalwarts Arjun Erigaisi (Elo rating 2773) and R Praggnanandhaa (2771) have navigated their way to the tiebreaks, showcasing their skill and endurance. The duo, along with Pentala Harikrishna, managed to secure draws in their respective matches, while Pranav V and Karthik Venkatraman's campaigns came to an end. On Tuesday, Praggnanandhaa faced off against Daniil Dubov, a former World Rapid champion, in a highly anticipated match. Although the game was marked by several blunders from both players, neither was able to capitalize on the mistakes. The next day, the two players produced a precise game, earning a solid draw. Erigaisi, playing with white pieces, accepted a draw after 36 moves against experienced Peter Leko. The Hungarian grandmaster praised Erigaisi's preparation and expressed confidence in his opening line. Harikrishna, playing white against Nils Grandelius, was under pressure but managed to force a draw in a bishop-pawn endgame. Meanwhile, Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara became the first player to advance to the round of 16 after securing a draw against Alexey Sarana. He will face the winner of the match between Harikrishna and Grandelius. Two-time champion Levon Aronian also advanced to the next round after drawing with Radoslaw Wojtaszek. The Indian results from Round 4 are as follows: * Arjun Erigaisi drew with Peter Leko (1:1 aggregate) * R Praggnanandhaa drew with Daniil Dubov (1:1 aggregate) * P Harikrishna drew with Nils Grandelius (1:1 aggregate) * Pranav V lost to Nodirbek Yakubboev (1.5:0.5 aggregate) * Karthik Venkataraman lost to Le Quang Liem (0.5:1.5 aggregate)