India's Chess World Cup Hopes Crash Amidst Upsets and Disappointments
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The 2025 Chess World Cup in Goa ended on a sour note for India, with no local player making it to the semifinals. The tournament, won by Javokhir Sindarov, was a thrilling affair with several surprises, but for Indian fans, it was a crushing blow. Arjun Erigaisi, the country's top-ranked GM, was the only Indian to reach the quarterfinals, where he fell to China's Wei Yi. "This setback is particularly disheartening for Erigaisi, as it means he has missed the opportunity to qualify for the Candidates tournament next year, which would have allowed him to challenge D Gukesh for the World Championship title. Gukesh himself had a lackluster performance, failing to build on his momentum after becoming the youngest-ever world champion. His ranking has taken a hit, and he's now World No. 10. "R Praggnanandhaa also failed to impress, but his performance in the FIDE Circuit is closing in on securing the final Candidates berth. On a more positive note, V Pranav reached the fourth round as the World Junior Champion, while Diptayan Ghosh's epic win against Ian Nepomniachtchi in the second round will be remembered for its dramatic twist, including the Russian GM's meltdown after the defeat.
