Panaji: Grandmaster (GM) Arjun Erigaisi and GM Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa played solid draws, while Pentala Harikrishna managed to turn around a challenging situation to move into a tiebreak in the fourth round of the FIDE World Cup 2025 here on Wednesday. Erigaisi accepted a draw after 36 moves against the seasoned GM Peter Leko of Hungary with the white pieces, and Praggnanandhaa split the points after 30 moves against GM Daniil Dubov. Harikrishna also drew after 38 moves with GM Nils Grandelius of Sweden.
GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara, who won with the black pieces on Tuesday, became the first player to progress to the Round of 16 after opting for a threefold repetition, drawing against GM Alexey Sarana in 20 moves. He will now compete against the winner of the match between Harikrishna and Grandelius. Advancing to the next round as well was two-time champion GM Levon Aronian, who drew his second game in 35 moves with black against GM Radoslaw Wojtaszek. Among the five Indian players in the fourth round, the focus was particularly on Arjun and Praggnanandhaa on the top boards.
Erigaisi chose the Nimzo Indian opening with white against Leko and appeared well-prepared, gaining time on the clock after 16 moves. However, the Hungarian defended tenaciously, and the highest-ranked Indian opted to trade queens on the 20th move after contemplating for 26 moves. He attempted to advance but was unable to find a breakthrough. Meanwhile, world junior champion Pranav V was eliminated from the tournament after losing his second game against GM Nodirbek Yakubboev of Uzbekistan in 38 moves.
India results (Round 4, Game 2): GM Arjun Erigaisi drew with GM Peter Leko (HUN) (1:1 aggregate), GM Daniil Dubov (FID) drew with GM R Praggnanandhaa (1:1 aggregate), GM P Harikrishna drew with GM Nils Grandelius (SWE) (1:1 aggregate), GM Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB) defeated GM Pranav V. (1.5:0.5 aggregate), GM Karthik Venkataraman lost to GM Le Quang Liem (VIE) (0.5:1.5 aggregate).