In one of many largest upsets of the FIDE World Cup 2025 in Goa, world champion D Gukesh was knocked out within the third spherical on Saturday, November 8. The 19-year-old, ranked No. 9, misplaced to World No. 85 Frederik Swain of Germany.
World champion Gukesh D misplaced his third spherical match towards Frederik Svane. Having drawn the primary recreation with black items, the Indian went for a win within the second however Svane not solely managed to wriggle out of time stress but in addition compelled Gukesh to resign in a knight-pawn ending. Regardless of having equal materials benefit, the place of the pawns ensured that there can be no method Gukesh might maintain on and he resigned.
The end result despatched shockwaves within the coastal metropolis of Panjim because the poster boy of Indian chess was proven the door as early because the third of the eight-round knockout occasion.
TOUGH 2025 CONTINUES FOR GUKESH
For many Indian Chess followers, the elimination of Gukesh can be a bitter blow and a few will elevate lots of questions. Was there a necessity for Gukesh to play this event? Is he attempting too laborious? Does this solely elevate questions on him being the world champion? All of that may solely develop within the coming days as his 12 months winds down.
After a historic rise in 2024 that noticed him topped world champion, 2025 has proved a extra demanding 12 months for D. Gukesh. Getting into the season because the youngest world champion in trendy chess, he confronted a heavier event workload and much larger scrutiny from the elite circuit. The 12 months has seen flashes of his trademark sharp preparation and resourcefulness, but in addition just a few uncharacteristic slips — significantly in advanced middlegames and time-pressure eventualities.
PRAGG PROGRESSES
GM Praggnanandhaa made the a lot of the slight benefit he gained within the center recreation to beat GM Robert Hovhannisyan of Armenia as 4 Indians booked a spot within the fourth spherical of the FIDE World Cup 2025 right here on Saturday whereas World Champion Gukesh D was knocked out.
Praggnanandhaa, who needed to play an extended tiebreak to achieve the third spherical after which drew the primary recreation with black, discovered himself in a tough scenario because it seemed like Hovhannisyan had negated the Indians early benefit.
However the third highest ranked Indian had a transparent recreation plan and took management of the match by transfer 27 together with his queen and rook placing stress on black’s king. The Armenian in the end resigned after 42 strikes.
A complete of 10 Indians have made it to the third spherical of the FIDE World Cup 2025, which is being performed as a single-elimination knock-out event with 206 gamers from 82 nations vying for the coveted Viswanathan Anand Cup, named after the Indian legend.
Harikrishna, who had received the primary recreation with white, was the primary Indian to advance to the subsequent spherical after he performed out a fast draw towards Belgium’s GM Daniel Dardha and was quickly joined by GM Arjun Erigaisi and World Junior Champion GM Pranav V, who additionally didn’t take dangers with black items and break up the purpose.
Anish Giri, the best seeded international participant within the competitors, was knocked out after he misplaced the second recreation towards GM Alexander Donchenko with black items in 47 strikes.
Arjun will now face Hungarian GM Peter Leko, who defeated GM Kirill Alekseenko in each video games of Spherical 3. In the meantime, GM Vidit Gujrathi, Karthik Venkataraman and GM Narayanan S will now must play the tiebreak on Sunday after they drew each the video games on this spherical.
Indian Outcomes (Spherical 3, Sport 2)
GM Gukesh D misplaced to GM Frederik Svane (GER) (0.5:1.5 combination)
GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov (UZB) drew with GM Arjun Erigaisi (0.5:1.5 combination)
GM R Praggnanandhaa vs GM Robert Hovhannisyan (ARM) (1.5:0.5 combination)
GM Daniel Dardha (BEL) drew with GM P Harikrishna (0.5:1.5 combination)
GM Titas Stremavicius (LTU) drew GM Pranav V (0.5:1.5 combination)
GM Grabriel Sargissian (ARM) bt GM Diptayan Ghosh (1.5:0.5 combination)
GM Yu Yangyi (CHN) drew with GM Narayanan S (0.5:0.5 combination)
GM Vidit Gujrathi drew with GM Sam Shankland (USA) (0.5:0.5 combination)
GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac (ROU) drew with GM Karthik Venkatraman (0.5:0.5 combination)
GM Pranesh M misplaced to GM Vincent Keymer (GER) (0.5:1.5 combination)
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