Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi became first Indian player and second overall to qualify for the quarter-finals of the of FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 by defeating two-time world cup champion Levon Aronian with the black pieces today in Arpora, Goa.
Pentala Harikrishna, the only other Indian besides Arjun to reach Round 5 of the World Cup, has drawn his second classical game against Jose Martinez, following a draw in the first match as well. The pair will now head to tiebreaks tomorrow.
Both Arjun and Harikrishna drew their Respective Game 1 in Round 5 yesterday. Arjun gave veteran Levon Aronian a tough fight. Aronian defended well and managed to hold the draw yesterday, but failed to do so today even with the advantages of the playing with the white pieces.
Six of the eight Duel classical games in the Round of 16 ended without a decisive result, and the winners of the clashes will now be determined in tomorrow’s tiebreaks.
