Harikrishna Knocked Out; Arjun Erigaisi Lone Indian Hope at FIDE World Cup

India’s FIDE World Cup 2025 campaign now rests on second seed Arjun Erigaisi after P. Harikrishna was eliminated in a tense Round 5 tiebreak against Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara. Having drawn both classical and the first set of 15-minute rapid games, Harikrishna pushed hard in the 10-minute rapid with white but faltered after trading queens, losing a 59-move rook-pawn endgame.

Needing a must-win with black in the next game, he settled for a draw and exited the event. Arjun, who beat Levon Aronian 1.5–0.5, now enters the quarterfinals to face Chinese GM Wei Yi.