GM R. Praggnanandhaa defeated Armenia’s GM Robert Hovhannisyan to reach the fourth round of the FIDE World Cup 2025 in Panaji, as four Indians advanced while World Champion Gukesh D was eliminated.
Praggnanandhaa converted a slight middle-game edge into victory after 42 moves, showcasing strong endgame control. Harikrishna, Arjun Erigaisi, and Pranav V also progressed, opting for safe draws with black pieces. However, Gukesh lost to Germany’s Frederik Svane in a knight-pawn endgame. Ten Indians had reached Round 3 of the 206-player knockout tournament for the Viswanathan Anand Cup, with Vidit Gujrathi, Narayanan S, and Karthik Venkataraman heading to tiebreaks.