Praggnanandhaa Escapes Defeat After 14th-Move Error Against Dubov

In a heart-stopping encounter at the FIDE World Cup 2025 in Panaji, Goa, teenage prodigy R Praggnanandhaa narrowly escaped defeat after committing a critical 14th-move error with white against Russian GM Daniil Dubov, only for his opponent to overlook a decisive advantage under severe time pressure, resulting in a hard-fought 41-move draw. The second-seeded Indian, widely regarded as a title contender, found himself in deep trouble as Dubov pressed relentlessly, but the game ultimately ended in a tense handshake that keeps Praggnanandhaa’s hopes alive heading into the crucial return game.

Meanwhile, India’s top seed GM Arjun Erigaisi demonstrated supreme composure to secure a rapid 20-move draw with black against veteran Hungarian GM Peter Leko, who is returning to individual competition after a six-year hiatus. Leko admitted post-game that Arjun’s unexpected opening preparation caught him off guard, forcing him to repeat moves when his clock dwindled dangerously low. The Hungarian now faces the daunting task of winning with black in the second game to advance, while Arjun holds the psychological edge with white in the rematch.

Elsewhere on Indian boards, GM P Harikrishna displayed rock-solid defence to hold Swedish GM Nils Grandelius to a 32-move draw with black, maintaining his reputation as one of the most resilient players in classical chess. Similarly, GM Karthik Venkataraman neutralised the dangerous Vietnamese GM Le Quang Liem in 36 moves, ensuring all four Indian representatives remain undefeated after the first games of Round 4 and perfectly positioned to push for pre-quarterfinal berths.

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In other notable results, two-time World Cup champion GM Levon Aronian asserted his experience by defeating Polish GM Radoslaw Wojtaszek in 37 moves with white, while Peruvian GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara delivered an upset by outmanoeuvring Russian GM Alexey Sarana in 39 moves with black. These outcomes underscore the brutal knockout nature of the tournament, where a single miscalculation can end even the strongest campaigns.

With all Indian players drawing their first games and holding the white pieces in Wednesday’s return matches, the stage is set for potential breakthroughs. Praggnanandhaa will need to regroup after his scare, while Arjun, Harikrishna, and Karthik are poised to capitalize on their favorable colors. As the FIDE World Cup intensifies, Indian chess fans have every reason to believe multiple home stars could storm into the last 16.

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