NT Reporter | Arpora
All five remaining Indian contenders played out hard-fought draws to stay firmly in contention after the opening games of the fourth round of the FIDE Chess World Cup at Arpora on Tuesday.
Arjun Erigaisi, who has been India’s most consistent performer, faced Hungarian veteran Peter Leko and held comfortably with Black.
Employing the Sicilian Taimanov, Arjun showcased precise preparation that even Leko found it hard to challenge. The game fizzled into a draw, leaving the Indian poised to push harder in the return leg.
R Praggnanandhaa, meanwhile, was slightly worse against Daniil Dubov before the Russian-born opted for a draw, preferring to take his chances in the faster time controls. P Harikrishna too split points with Sweden’s Nils Grandelius.
