World Champion D Gukesh exited the FIDE World Cup 2025 in Goa after losing to Germany’s Frederik Svane in the third round on Saturday, November 8. Gukesh drew the first game and lost the second, ending the match with a 0.5:1.5 aggregate. The 19-year-old Indian, ranked ninth in the world, suffered a surprising defeat to World No. 85 Svane. The result marked one of the biggest upsets of the tournament as the reigning world champion failed to advance beyond the third round of the prestigious chess event.
Gukesh Struggles in Endgame Battle Against Svane
In the opening game, Gukesh held a draw with black pieces but entered the second round determined to secure a win. However, Svane played with precision and restricted the Indian’s attacking chances. Gukesh found himself in a difficult position in a knight-and-pawn endgame and was forced to settle for a handshake. His pawn structure offered no counterplay, and the draw sealed his exit from the competition. Despite his early elimination, Gukesh received praise for his sportsmanship and composure in handling the loss.
Four Indian Grandmasters Advance to Next Stage
While Gukesh faced elimination, four Indian players Praggnanandhaa, Harikrishna, Arjun Erigaisi, and Pranav V—secured victories to move into the round of 32. Harikrishna and Pranav advanced by defeating Daniel Dardha of Belgium and Titas Stremavicius of Lithuania, respectively, with identical 1.5-0.5 scores. Erigaisi and Praggnanandhaa also progressed after impressive performances in their second-round games. Their advancement boosted India’s presence in the tournament, maintaining strong hopes for a deep run in the upcoming rounds.
In other matches, GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov of Uzbekistan drew with Arjun Erigaisi, allowing the Indian to progress 1.5:0.5 on aggregate. GM R Praggnanandhaa defeated GM Robert Hovhannisyan of Armenia 1.5:0.5. GM Daniel Dardha drew with GM P Harikrishna, while GM Pranav V overcame GM Titas Stremavicius. GM Grabriel Sargissian of Armenia defeated GM Diptayan Ghosh 1.5:0.5. GM Yu Yangyi and GM Narayanan S drew their games, as did GM Vidit Gujrathi and GM Sam Shankland. GM Pranesh M lost to GM Vincent Keymer of Germany.
India’s Mixed Fortunes Continue in Goa
India witnessed mixed results at the FIDE World Cup 2025 as emerging players continued to shine while one of the country’s biggest stars exited early. The performances of Praggnanandhaa, Erigaisi, Harikrishna, and Pranav V strengthened India’s chances of success in later rounds. The event in Goa attracted top international grandmasters, creating intense battles across the boards. The next stage will see Indian players face tough global opponents as they aim for a place in the final stages of the World Cup and a spot in future championship cycles.
Swastika Sruti is a Senior Sub Editor at NewsX Digital with 5 years of experience shaping stories that matter. She loves tracking politics- national and global trends, and never misses a chance to dig deeper into policies and developments. Passionate about what’s happening around us, she brings sharp insight and clarity to every piece she works on. When not curating news, she’s busy exploring what’s next in the world of public interest. You can reach her at [swastika.newsx@gmail.com]
