FIDE World Cup 2025 Round 1 TB: Diptayan Ghosh, S L Narayanan and Aronyak Ghosh are through to Round 2

by Shahid Ahmed - 04/11/2025

A total of 17 Indians will play in Round 2 of FIDE World Cup 2025. GM S L Narayanan, IM Aronyak Ghosh and GM Diptayan Ghosh won their respective tie-breaks to advance to Round 2. Narayanan and Diptayan won both of their 15'+10" games to win their respective games. Aronyak had six decisive games before securing his place in the next round. GM Lalit Rohit and GM Raja Rithvik got eliminated. Aronyak is the sole Indian IM out of the three who will battle in Round 2. For the first time in a FIDE World Cup history, the highest number of Indians have qualified - nine. They will join the eight seeded players. At least one Indian is confirmed to play in Round 3 as GM Karthik Venkataraman will face GM Aravindh Chithambaram in this round. Round 2 Game 1 starts today from 3 p.m. IST. Photos: Shahid Ahmed

17 Indians in Round 2; Lalit and Raja Rithvik get eliminated

Indians keep making history and record keeps tumbling. IM Aronyak Ghosh and IM Faustino Oro (ARG) joined IM Bojan Maksimovic (BIH) and IM Shixu B Wang (CHN) as they became the only four IMs in the field of 128 players who will clash in the second round.

Aronyak - Mateusz: 4-2

IM Aronyak Ghosh (2520) and GM Mateusz Bartel (POL, 2575) had only decisive games in their game. Aronyak started the day with a 19-move miniature by trapping his opponent's queen.

IM Aronyak Ghosh won the first 15'+10" Rapid game to put GM Mateusz Bartel (POL) in a must-win situation

In the second 15'+10" Rapid game, Aronyak miscalculated and lost a whole rook. The score became level 2-2.

Aronyak - Mateusz, Rapid Game 3

Position after 32.h4??

The first 10'+10" or overall third game was a wild one. In time trouble, Aronyak went for 32.h4?? which actually does not work after Ra1+ 33.Kf2 Nxe4+ and Black is winning. Instead, his opponent decided to retreat his knight 33...Ne6?? 34.Ng8! a beautiful find Qf7 35.Rxf7 Rxf7 and White went on to win the game eventually.

The second 10'+10" Rapid game was another miniature. Mateusz blundered his rook in just 20 moves.

IM Aronyak Ghosh - GM Mateusz Bartel, Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Interview with IM Aronyak Ghosh | Video: ChessBase India

IM Aronyak Ghosh arrived first on the board and made sure he is here to stay

Steven Rojas - Narayanan: 1-3

In a back and forth battle, GM S L Narayanan (2617) found a very nice tactic against IM Steven Rojas Salas (PER, 2415) in the endgame.

Steven - Narayanan, Rapid Game 1

Position after 50.Qf6??

Find out why 50.Qf6?? is a blunder and the beautiful combination which Narayanan found in the game.

In the second 15'+10" Rapid tie-break game, Steven went all out for a win as he was in a must-win situation which cost him his rook and the game in 22 moves.

Interview with GM S L Narayanan | Video: ChessBase India

GM S L Narayanan scored an unbeaten 3-1 against IM Steven Rojas Salas (PER) to set up a clash against GM Nikita Vitiugov (ENG)

Diptayan- Xiongjian: 3-1

GM Diptayan Ghosh (2573) won the first 15'+10" Rapid tie-break with a masterclass in rook endgame against GM Xiongjian Peng (CHN, 2520).

Diptayan - Xiongjian, Rapid Game 1

Position after 27.d6

Apart from one small tiny window of opportunity, Black was presented none and he eventually faltered, allowing White to win the game.

Interview with GM Diptayan Ghosh | Video: ChessBase India

GM Diptayan Ghosh set the tone for the tie-breaks by scoring an emphatic victory in the first Rapid game against GM Xiongjian Peng (CHN)

In the second 15'+10" Rapid game, Xiongjian went for an all out attack and paid a heavy price for it.

GM Diptayan Ghosh defeated GM Xiongjian Peng (CHN) 3-1 to advance to Round 2 where he will face the reigning World Blitz cochampion, GM Ian Nepomniachtchi

FIDE World Cup 2025 Official logo | Photo: Official site

Max - Lalit: 5-3

GM Max Warmerdam (NED) and GM Lalit Rohit had a back and forth tie-break games. They traded wins in both 15'+10" and 10'+10" Rapid games, first Max coming back from a must-win situation and then Lalit. Eventually, Max won both 5'+3" Blitz games to win the match. He will face GM Awonder Liang (USA) in Round 2.

Replay Max - Lalit tie-break games

GM Max Warmerdam (NED) eliminated GM Lalit Rohit

Kazybek - Rithvik: 5-3

GM Raja Rithvik R came twice from behind after the losing both first Rapid games in 15'+10" and 10'+10" time control against the former World Junior champion, GM Kazybek Nogerbek (KAZ). However, it was one time too many as he lost both 5'+3" Blitz games to get eliminated. Kazybek will face the World Champion, GM D Gukesh in Round 2.

Replay Kazybek - Rithvik games

Interview with GM Kazybek Nogerbek | Video: ChessBase India

GM Raja Rithvik R lost to GM Kazybek Nogerbek by 3-5

GM Ante Brkic (CRO) - IM Faustino Oro (ARG) games + interview | Video: ChessBase India

Interview with IM Faustino Oro | Video: ChessBase India

IM Faustino Oro (ARG) defeated GM Ante Brkic (CRO) 5-3 to advance to Round 2 where he will face GM Vidit Gujrathi

Sanjiv M Gadkar IAS, Secretary Protocol, Government of Goa made the ceremonial first move on GM Robert Hovhannisyan (ARM) and FM Kavin Mohan's (MAS) board

Round 1 tie-break games in progress

For more photos, please click here.

World Champion, D Gukesh arrives in Goa | Video: ChessBase India

What do players eat | Video: ChessBase India

Scores after Round 1 TB of Indian players

GM Diptayan Ghosh - GM Xiongjian Peng (CHN): 3-1

GM S L Narayanan🇮🇳 - IM Steven Rojas Salas (PER): 3-1

IM Aronyak Ghosh - GM Mateusz Bartel (POL): 4-2

GM Max Warmerdam (NED) - GM Lalit Rohit: 5-3

GM Kazybek Nogerbek (KAZ) - GM Raja Rithvik R: 5-3

A total of 20 matches were decided on tie-breaks.

Round 2 pairings

GM D Gukesh - GM Kazybek Nogerbek (KAZ)

GM Martin Petrov (BUL) - GM Arjun Erigaisi

GM R Praggnanandhaa - GM Temur Kuybokarov (AUS)

GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) - GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly

GM Diptayan Ghosh - GM Ian Nepomniachtchi

GM Levon Aronian (USA) - IM Aronyak Ghosh

GM Vidit Gujrathi - IM Faustino Oro (ARG)

GM Karthik Venkataraman - GM Aravindh Chithambaram

GM Stamatis Kourkoulos-Arditis (GRE) - GM Nihal Sarin

GM Arseniy Nesterov - GM Pentala Harikrishna

GM Thai Dai Van Nguyen (CZE) - GM Iniyan Pa

GM Pouya Idani (IRI) - GM Karthikeyan Murali

GM S L Narayanan - GM Nikita Vitiugov (ENG)

GM Dmitrij Kollars (GER) - GM Pranesh M

GM Aryan Tari (NOR) - GM Pranav Venkatesh

GM Robert Hovhanniyan (ARM) - GM Raunak Sadhwani

Replay live stream

Watch FIDE World Cup 2025 Round 1 TB Live Commentary by IM Tania Sachdev, IM Sagar Shah, Amruta Mokal, Sahil Tickoo, GM Harshit Raja and GM Sahaj Grover | Video: ChessBase India

Replay Round 1 TB games

Links

Tournament Regulations

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