The FIDE World Cup 2025 Round 2 brought some exciting moments for Indian chess fans. Seventeen Indian players remain in the tournament, showcasing their skills against some of the best in the world.
Among those, Arjun Erigaisi managed to grab a solid win, while Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa fought hard to secure draws in their matches. Let’s dive into the details of these thrilling games and how the Indian contingent fared overall in Round 2.
FIDE World Cup 2025 Round 2: Arjun Erigasi Takes A Win
Arjun Erigaisi, India’s top-rated grandmaster, had a standout performance in the FIDE World Cup 2025 Round 2. Playing with the black pieces, Arjun capitalised on an error from his Bulgarian opponent, Martin Petrov, and sealed the game in just 37 moves. This win was an important boost for Arjun as it put him in a strong position for the second game of the round, where he will have the white pieces. With his calm and calculated style, Arjun proved once again why he is considered one of the brightest young stars in Indian chess.
Gukesh D And Praggnanandhaa Held
The two giants of Indian chess, D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa, faced tough opponents and ended their FIDE World Cup 2025 Round 2 games with draws. Gukesh, who is also the tournament’s top seed, held his ground against Kazybek Nogerbek from Kazakhstan. Meanwhile, Praggnanandhaa battled it out with Anish Giri, a strong competitor, and the match ended level after a set of intense classical games. These draws reflect the fierce competition at the World Cup, where every half point counts.
Other Indian Players Keep the Dream Alive
With 17 Indians making it to the FIDE World Cup 2025 Round 2, the tournament is a testament to India’s rising stature in the global chess arena. Players like V Pranav, Surya Shekhar Ganguly, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Vidit Gujrathi, and Aronyak Ghosh also gave strong performances, with several wins helping them advance further. The tournament saw some close contests, including marathon games and tiebreakers, but the spirit and fighting attitude of the Indian players were on full display. Here are the full results for Indian players in the FIDE World Cup 2025 Round 2.
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| Player 1 | Result | Player 2 |
| D. Gukesh | Draw | Kazybek Nogerbek |
| Martin Petrov | Lost | Arjun Erigaisi |
| R. Praggnanandhaa | Draw | Temur Kuybokarov |
| Bojan Maksimovic | Draw | Anish Giri |
| Wesley So | Draw | Titas Stremavicius |
| Shakhriyar Mamedyarov | Won | Gregely Kantor |
| Dennis Makhnev | Draw | Nodirbek Abdusattorov |
| Vladislav Kovalev | Lost | Vincent Keymer |
| Wei Yi | Won | Kacper Piorun |
| Lorenzo Lodici | Draw | Hans Niemann |
| Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Won | Surya Shekhar Ganguly |
| Lorenzo Luis Supi | Lost | Richard Rapport |
| Le Quang Liem | Draw | Baadur Jobava |
| Levon Aronian | Won | Aronyak Ghosh |
| Diptayan Ghosh | Draw | Ian Nepomniachtchi |
| Vidit Gujrathi | Draw | Faustino Oro |
| Karthik Venkataraman | Draw | Aravindh Chithambaram |
| Stamatis Kourkoulos-Arditis | Draw | Nihal Sarin |
| Aryan Tari | Lost | V. Pranav |
| Rasmus Svane | Draw | P. Harikrishna |
| Dmitrij Kollars | Draw | M. Pranesh |
| Thai Dai Van Nguyen | Draw | Pa. Iniyan |
| Pouya Idani | Draw | Karthikeyan Murali |
| Hovhannisyan | Draw | Raunak Sadhwani |
The FIDE World Cup 2025 continues to be one of the biggest chess events of the year, and with India hosting and featuring so many top players, the excitement and support back home are palpable. So, stay tuned for more updates and keep cheering for the Indian contingent as they chase the World Cup dream in Goa!
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