On Sunday in Panaji, Goa, Indian grandmaster Karthik Venkataraman kept his FIDE World Cup 2025 dream alive by beating Romanian GM Bogdan‑Daniel Deac in the second rapid tiebreak game. With a win in 43 moves, Karthik now moves on to the fourth round, where he will face Vietnam’s Le Quang Liem.
Venkataraman had drawn the first rapid game against Deac. In the second, he pinned the Romanian king and used an extra bishop to win cleanly. “I didn’t play the best in the classical game, but I held my own,” he said. “Both rapid games went well for me. I’m not sure I was objectively winning, but I was clearly better.” The 18‑year‑old added that the World Cup’s high‑pressure format is different from the usual Swiss or round‑robin tournaments, making every move critical.
India will have five players in the fourth round as the competition heads toward its climax. The Viswanathan Anand Cup is also in full swing, and the three Indian candidates rest on Monday.
The day ended in disappointment for Vidit Gujrathi and Narayanan SL. Vidit captured a full point in his first rapid game against American Sam Shankland, but a queen trade under time pressure cost him the second game, sending the match into a second set of rapid games. He lost the final rapid game in 61 moves, eliminating him from the event. Narayanan, fighting on black, lost 1.5‑2.5 to Chinese GM Yu Yangyi after a marathon 125‑move match, and his second‑game draw meant he was also knocked out.
Round 3 tiebreak results
- Karthik Venkataraman beat Bogdan‑Daniel Deac (ROU) 2.5‑1.5
- Narayanan SL lost to Yu Yangyi (CHN) 1.5‑2.5
- Vidit Gujrathi lost to Sam Shankland (USA) 2.5‑3.5
The World Cup now moves forward, with India’s best players eyeing further chances to shine on the global stage.
Source: ianslive
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