NT Reporter | Arpora
Last edition’s runner-up R Praggnanandhaa bowed out of the FIDE World Cup 2025 after a tense tiebreak defeat to former World Rapid Champion GM Daniil Dubov in the fifth round on Thursday.
After drawing the opening Rapid game with black in just 12 moves, Praggnanandhaa pushed hard for victory with white in the decider. But the 19-year-old’s bold approach backfired as Dubov unleashed a precise attacking sequence to seal the match in 53 moves, ending the Indian prodigy’s campaign earlier than expected.
The Chennai Grandmaster, who had reached the final of the 2023 edition, showed flashes of his trademark creativity but couldn’t find the breakthrough against the ever-resourceful Dubov.
Meanwhile, India’s Arjun Erigaisi and P Harikrishna advanced to the pre-quarterfinals after impressive wins in their respective tiebreaks. Arjun dominated GM Peter Leko, winning both Rapid games in style to set up a last-16 clash with two-time World Cup winner Levon Aronian. Harikrishna, on the other hand, overcame GM Nils Grandelius with a sharp display in the second Rapid game and now faces giant-killer GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara.
