FIDE World Cup 2025 R3.1: Arjun Erigaisi scores a hat-trick, Harikrishna and Pranav also win
Arjun Erigaisi has made a great start at FIDE World Cup 2025. He scored a hat-trick of Classical wins, this time against Shamsiddin Vokhidov. Pentala Harikrishna was the first player to win a game in this round against Daniel Dardha (BEL). Reigning World Junior champion, Pranav Venkatesh scored an emphatic victory over Titas Stremavicius (LTU). World Champion - D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, Pranesh M, Diptayan Ghosh, S L Narayanan, Vidit Gujrathi and Karthik Venkataraman drew their respective games. It was a great day for the Indians as none of them lost their games. Round 3 Game 2 starts today from 3 p.m. IST. Photos: Shahid Ahmed
An unbeaten day for Indians
Arjun Erigaisi, Pranav Venkatesh and Pentala Harikrishna are just a draw away from advancing to Round 4. Diptayan Ghosh probably missed a good opportunity to win against Gabriel Sargissian in the end. Pranesh M managed to hold a draw against the World no.4, Vincent Keymer. You can visit the venue and watch the games live in person. Check the buy tickets link at the end of the article for all details.
Frederik - Gukesh: 0.5-0.5
This is the first time GM Frederik Svane (GER, 2640) faced the World Champion, GM D Gukesh (2763) in a Classical rated game. They had a solid draw.
Arjun - Vokhidov: 1-0
World no.6, GM Arjun Erigaisi (2769) faced GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov (UZB, 2640) four times in Classical rated games. Three of them ended in draws, Arjun won the fourth one a few months ago. This time Vokhidov played something he usually doesn't play.
Arjun defeated GM Wei Yi (CHN) earlier this year when the latter went 17...Ke7. However, in this game, Vokhidov went 17...Kf8 18.Qd2 Qa4 19.f4 Qb4 20.e5 f6 21.Bd3 fxe5? exposes the king 22.fxe5+- Nxe5 23.0-0+ it is not every day we get to witness a check by castling Kg8 24.Bf5 Bf7 25.Rc8 Qb6+ 26.Rf2 Rxc8 27.Bxc8 h5 28.Nxf7 Nxf7 29.Qd5 Kh7 30.Qxf7 and White won.
Hovhannisyan - Praggnanandhaa: 0.5-0.5
GM R Praggnanandhaa (2768) defeated three-time reigning Armenia and World Team 2011 Gold medalist, GM Robert Hovhannisyan (ARM, 2629) over four months ago in Jermuk, Armenia with the white pieces. However, this time Hovhannisyan had the white pieces. He opted for the Scotch opening and played a nice tactical shot 14.Bc7
14...Nxd3 15.cxd3 Qd7 16.Rxe8+ Qxe8 17.Qf4 and the game petered out to a draw.
Pranav - Titas: 1-0
GM Pranav Venkatesh (2641) won his first Classical rated game against GM Titas Stremavicius (LTU, 2544). Pranav got a decisive advantage by 18th move. However, his opponent kept fighting and making a comeback, eventually succumbing on 102nd move.
Keymer - Pranesh: 0.5-0.5
GM Pranesh M (2630) played a hard-fought draw in his first Classical rated game against the World no.4, GM Vincent Keymer (GER, 2773). However, the game had a moment where Pranesh
According to the live stream, it seems like Pranesh intended to capture the d3-pawn with his rook or it can be an accident too, brushed the d3-pawn with his fingertips, then played Ba1. Arbiter intervened, enforced the touch and move rule. Pranesh had to return to his original move 63...Rxd3 which is the best move and the game eventually ended in a draw.
Abdusattorov - Jose Eduardo: 0-1
The new Mexico no.1, GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara (2644) offered a queen trade three times starting with as early as move no.2 (virtually). However, his opponent, GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB, 2750) declined the offer every single time. Despite having a good position, White misplayed and eventually landed himself in trouble.
34...a4-+ turned things completely in Black's favor. 35.Bxc3 axb3+ 36.Kxb3 Rb8+ 37.Rb4 Qe6+ 38.Kxa3 d5 39.Qf1 d4 and it's over.
Diptayan - Gabriel: 0.5-0.5
As mentioned in an earlier interview, GM Diptayan Ghosh (2573) faced GM Gabriel Sargissian (ARM, 2616) only once over 9.5 years ago. It had ended in a draw. This time also the game was heading towards the same outcome.
39.Rxb3 Bxb3 40.Kxe4 ends in a comfortable draw for both players as the game liquidates into an opposite color bishop endgame. Instead, Black opted 39...Nxg5 to keep chances 40.Rb5 f6 41.h4 Ne4 42.Rb2+- Nxd2 43.Rxc2 Nb3 44.Rc3 Na5 45.Rc7? instead 45.Kd4/e4 would have maintained the decisive advantage according to the computer.
S L Narayanan - Yangyi: 0.5-0.5
GM S L Narayanan (2617) played a solid draw against GM Yangyi Yu (CHN, 2726). The majority of the game was a queen ending.
Shankland - Vidit: 0.5-0.5
GM Sam Shankland (USA, 2649) and GM Vidit Gujrathi (2715) have faced each other seven times in Classical rated games. Vidit won three, Shankland won one and drew three. Their eighth game was a relatively calm draw.
Karthik - Deac: 0.5-0.5
The first Classical rated game between GM Karthik Venkataraman (2576) and GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac (ROU, 2655) was a well contested draw.
Harikrishna - Dardha: 1-0
GM Pentala Harikrishna (2690) faced GM Daniel Dardha (BEL, 2598) for the first time in a Classical rated game. They only played one Blitz rated game against each other nearly three years ago. It had ended in a draw. However, Harikrishna was in a mood to go for the maximum.
16...Rd8?? was the decisive mistake as mentioned by Harikrishna in the post-game interview. Instead, 16...dxc4 would have been playable. The game continued 17.cxd5 cxd5 18.Nc3 dxe4 19.Ba4+ Kf8 20.Qh6+ Kg8 21.Rxd8+ Bxd8 22.Re3 Bc7 23.Nxe4 Bxe4+ 24.Rxe4 f5
Find out the beautiful finish which Harikrishna executed in the game.
For more photos, please click here.
Round 3.1 results
GM Frederik Svane (GER) - GM D Gukesh: 0.5-0.5
GM Arjun Erigaisi - GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov (UZB): 1-0
GM Robert Hovhannisyan (ARM) - GM R Praggnananandhaa: 0.5-0.5
GM Pranav Venkatesh - GM Titas Stremavicius (LTU): 1-0
GM Vincent Keymer (GER) - GM Pranesh M: 0.5-0.5
GM Diptayan Ghosh - GM Gabriel Sargissian: 0.5-0.5
GM S L Narayanan - GM Yangyi Yu (CHN): 0.5-0.5
GM Sam Shankland (USA) - GM Vidit Gujrathi: 0.5-0.5
GM Karthik Venkataraman - GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac (ROU): 0.5-0.5
GM Pentala Harikrishna - GM Daniel Dardha (BEL): 1-0
Round 3.2 pairings
GM Frederik Svane (GER) - GM D Gukesh
GM Arjun Erigaisi🇮🇳 - GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov (UZB)
GM Robert Hovhannisyan - GM R Praggnananandhaa
GM Pranav Venkatesh - GM Titas Stremavicius (LTU)
GM Vincent Keymer (GER) - GM Pranesh M
GM Diptayan Ghosh - GM Gabriel Sargissian (ARM)
GM S L Narayanan - GM Yangyi Yu (CHN)
GM Sam Shankland (USA) - GM Vidit Gujrathi
GM Karthik Venkataraman - GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac (ROU)
GM Pentala Harikrishna - GM Daniel Dardha (BEL)
