Drama Unfolds at the Chess World Cup: A Rule Breach and a Young Talent's Triumph
The FIDE World Cup 2025 witnessed an unexpected twist on Friday as Lithuania's Grandmaster Titas Stremavicius raised a complaint against India's rising star, Pranav V, during their third-round match. The issue? A potential violation of chess regulations. Pranav allegedly made several moves without recording them on his scoresheet, a rule that demands players meticulously note each move.
The situation escalated, requiring a third arbiter to mediate. However, the drama was swiftly resolved, and the game resumed after Pranav received a formal warning. Despite the interruption, the 19-year-old Indian demonstrated remarkable composure, securing victory over Stremavicius and maintaining India's strong performance in the tournament.
Other Indian players showcased their prowess as well. Arjun Erigaisi and P Harikrishna dominated with white pieces, while world champion D Gukesh secured a draw with black in the opening game of Round 3. Arjun, the highest-ranked Indian, showcased near-flawless chess, defeating Uzbekistan's Shamsiddin Vokhidov in just 30 moves. Harikrishna, in a surprising turn, outmaneuvered Belgium's Daniel Dardha in 25 moves, employing a new strategy in the Sicilian Classical variation.
'I prepared something new,' Harikrishna revealed. 'My opponent missed a few ideas, and the position collapsed quickly.'
Among the Indian contingent, R Praggnanandhaa, Vidit Gujrathi, and Gukesh also achieved draws with black pieces. They now aim to capitalize on white pieces on Saturday, striving for victories that would secure their progression to the fourth round.
