Chess World Cup, Round 4: Arjun, Harikrishna advance; Praggnanandhaa goes down in tiebreaks

Arjun Erigaisi and Pentala Harikrishna kept the Indian challenge alive while R. Praggnanandhaa, last edition’s runner-up, went down in tiebreaks in the fourth round of the Chess World Cup in Goa on Thursday.

Third seed Arjun defeated Hungarian GM Peter Leko in both rapid games to secure a spot in the round of 16 where he will face USA’s Levon Aronian.

Harikrishna was held to a draw by Sweden’s Nils Grandelius in the first rapid game. But the Indian won the second with white pieces to set up a pre-quarterfinal clash with Mexico’s José Eduardo Martínez Alcántara.

ALSO READ: Not Kramnik’s job to make accusations, says former second Loek van Wely

However, Praggnanandhaa, who lost to Magnus Carlsen in the final of the last edition two years ago, was knocked out by Russian Daniil Dubov. After a draw in the first rapid game, Dubov took down the second-seeded Indian with black pieces in the second.

More to follow…

Published on Nov 13, 2025