Diptayan Ghosh stunned the FIDE World Cup 2025 Wednesday in Goa, toppling former world championship challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi 1.5-0.5 in a lopsided Round 2 clash that ranks as the tournament’s greatest upset. The 27-year-old Kolkata GM, rated 2573 against Nepo’s 2732, drew the first game with white, then seized control with black when the erratic Russian missed a simple middlegame tactic, losing a pawn. Ghosh pressed relentlessly, exchanging pieces at optimal moments to reach a winning rook-and-pawn endgame, forcing resignation on move 47. “This is the biggest victory of my chess career, beating Nepo in a match,” Ghosh declared, his debut World Cup now etched in history.

P Harikrishna became India’s first to reach Round 3, demolishing Arseniy Nesterov 1.5-0.5 with a queen sacrifice on move eight—a line prepared years ago—turning chaos into a crushing attack. Arjun Erigaisi, India’s top seed at 2764, swept Martin Petrov 2-0, maintaining opening control as his opponent burned time seeking complications, then converting a pawn-up endgame in 48 moves. World champion D Gukesh advanced 1.5-0.5 over Nogerbek Kazybek, drawing first and grinding a 59-move black win through slow, suffocating pressure. R Praggnanandhaa drew twice with Temur Kuybokarov, pushing to tiebreaks after a 46-move Pirc Defense duel.

V Pranav, world junior champion, blew a first-game black win against Aryan Tari, collapsing in the second to force tiebreaks. Veterans Surya Shekhar Ganguly and Aronyak Ghosh exited 0.5-1.5 to Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Levon Aronian, unable to convert fighting draws into results. India now boasts four in Round 3 and three in tiebreaks, showcasing depth. Nepomniachtchi, co-blitz world champion, left without comment.

Also Read: INDvsSA Test Series Confirmed: Gill to Lead side in Crucial two-match Test Series

Ghosh’s demolition of a Candidates finalist electrifies the $2 million knockout honoring Viswanathan Anand. From underdog brilliance to Gukesh’s grind, Indian chess asserts global dominance. Tiebreaks await; the board is ablaze.As 64 players remain, India’s surge signals a new era. Ghosh’s roar reverberates worldwide.

Also Read: Mohammed Shami Dropped from India Test Squad vs South Africa – Career in Jeopardy?