PANAJI: It was a strong day for Indian chess as Grandmasters Narayanan S L, Diptayan Ghosh and Aronyak Ghosh advanced to the second round of the FIDE World Cup 2025 with impressive performances in the rapid tiebreaks here on Monday.
Narayanan led the way with a dominant 2–0 victory over International Master Steven Rojas of Peru. Playing black in the first game, the Kerala GM took control early to win in 52 moves, and sealed the match swiftly with white in just 22 moves. He now faces England’s GM Nikita Vitiugov in the next round.
“I thought I was a favourite in the tiebreak. In shorter formats, I usually perform well,” Narayanan said after his win. “My opponent played extremely well in the classical games, but once I won with black, I felt confident with white.”
Diptayan Ghosh also posted a convincing 2–0 win over China’s GM Peng Xiongjian. After grinding out a 70-move victory in the first game, he capitalised on his opponent’s errors to wrap up the second in 46 moves, setting up a round-two clash with GM Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia.
Aronyak Ghosh, who had upset Polish GM Mateusz Bartel in the classical stage on Sunday, continued his fine form. He won both games in the second stage of the rapid tiebreak — first in 54 moves and then in just 20 — to advance to a round-two meeting with GM Levon Aronian of the USA.
With six Indians — Surya Shekhar Ganguly, Pranav V, Raunak Sadhwani, Pranesh M, Karthik Venkatraman, and Iniyan P — having already advanced on Sunday, India now has nine players in the second round of the Viswanathan Anand Cup. The World Cup features 206 players from 82 nations in a knockout format.
India is also guaranteed at least one representative in the third round, as Karthik Venkatraman and GM Aravindh Chithambaram are set to face off in an all-Indian clash on Tuesday.