Post by : Meena Ariff

The Chess World Cup 2025 has entered into controversial waters as Indian Grandmaster Pranav V faced scrutiny during his third-round match against Lithuania's Grandmaster Titas Stremavicius. Stremavicius formally complained that Pranav had failed to record numerous moves on his scoresheet, breaching tournament rules that require meticulous note-taking of all moves played.

The incident necessitated the involvement of a third arbiter to clarify the situation. After careful examination, the arbiters decided to issue a formal warning to Pranav, allowing the game to continue. Despite the setback, Pranav managed to clinch a win in the match and is currently leading in the third round.

Reflecting on the incident, Pranav mentioned, “Honestly, I wasn’t aware that I had made, like, three moves without writing them down.” He later expressed that it was an honest mistake on his part.

Other Indian players also showcased strong performances on Friday, with Arjun Erigaisi and Pentala Harikrishna both achieving victories while playing with white pieces. Erigaisi triumphed over Uzbekistan’s Shamsiddin Vokhidov in merely 30 moves, while Harikrishna dispatched Belgium’s Daniel Dardha in a swift 25 moves.

Harikrishna provided his thoughts on the encounter, stating, “I had something new prepared. Though I had some external support, I couldn’t recall all the moves in that variation. However, there were some good tricks, and my opponent missed some crucial moves, failing to recognize the threats in the game effectively.”

In contrast, reigning World Champion D Gukesh drew his first game in Round 3 while playing black.

The FIDE World Cup 2025 is a fierce single-elimination competition that attracts 206 players spanning 82 nations. Notable figures such as Ian Nepomniachtchi, Wesley So, and Hans Niemann have already faced elimination. India’s presence is well noted, with 10 players progressing to the third round, showcasing the country's growing stature in the global chess arena.

#Global News #Sports News