NEW DELHI: In a remarkable display of talent, three Indian chess prodigies — D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi — advanced to the quarterfinals of the prestigious FIDE World Cup chess tournament in Baku on Sunday.
Gukesh emerged victorious against China's Wang Hao with a score of 1.5-0.5, setting the stage for an eagerly anticipated quarterfinal clash against the reigning world No. 1, Magnus Carlsen.
Praggnanandhaa sealed a win, ensuring a face-off with fellow Indian player Erigaisi in the quarterfinals, guaranteeing an Indian presence in the semifinals.
Following his win on Saturday in the first game, Gukesh delivered a solid performance with the white pieces to secure a draw against Hao, thereby securing his place in the quarterfinals.
Carlsen, the reigning champion, triumphed over Ukrainian legend Vassily Ivanchuk, achieving a resounding 2-0 victory.
Erigaisi opted for a quick draw against Sweden's Nils Grandelius, securing a place in the last eight.
Meanwhile, the encounters for Vidit Gujrathi and D Harika against their respective Russian opponents ended in draws for a second time, leading to a tie-breaker scheduled for Monday.
Gujrathi held the fourth seed, Ian Nepomniachtchi, to a draw in 49 moves, while Harika shared the honors with the second-seeded Aleksandra Goryachkina.
The chess world awaits the thrilling tie-breakers to determine their fate in this gripping tournament.
(With PTI inputs)
