FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 highlights, Round 3 Tiebreaks: Karthik enters Round 4; Vidit Gujrathi, SL Narayanan eliminated

Arjun Erigaisi, R. Praggnanandhaa, Pentala Harikrishna and Pranav V will be joined by Karthik Venkataraman in the fifth round of the FIDE World Cup in Goa. While the first four players won their third round games in the classical portion itself, Karthik was among the Indian trio which needed to scrap his way in the tiebreaks to secure his spot.

Vidit Gujrathi had one foot in the fourth round after winning the first game of the tiebreaks in the 15+10 time control on Sunday. But with just a draw needed to secure his spot, Vidit lost, thus sending his clash against USA's Sam Shankland into the 10-minute rapid games. There, after a draw first up, Vidit lost the second game to get eliminated.

Here are all the moves from the game Vidit lost to be eliminated:

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. Bc4 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 c6 8. a4 Re8 9. h3 h6 10. a5 exd4 11. Nxd4 Bf8 12. Bf4 Nc5 13. e5 dxe5 14. Bxe5 Ncd7 15. Bf4 Rxe1+ 16. Qxe1 Nc5 17. Qe3 Bd7 18. Be5 Qe7 19. Re1 Re8 20. Qf3 Qd8 21. Re3 a6 22. b4 Ne6 23. Bxe6 Bxe6 24. Bxf6 Qxf6 25. Qxf6 gxf6 26. Ne4 Be7 27. c3 Kf8 28. g4 Bc8 29. Nb3 f5 30. gxf5 Bxf5 31. Nec5 Bc8 32. Kg2 Rd8 33. Kg3 Rd6 34. Ne4 Rg6+ 35. Kh2 Be6 36. Nbc5 f5 37. Nxe6+ Rxe6 38. Ng3 Rxe3 39. fxe3 Bf6 40. Ne2 Ke7 41. Kg3 Ke6 42. c4 Be7 43. Nf4+ Kd7 44. Nd3 Ke6 45. Kf3 Bd6 46. e4 fxe4+ 47. Kxe4 Kf6 48. c5 Bc7 49. Nb2 Be5 50. Nc4 Bc3 51. Nd6 Bxb4 52. Nxb7 Ke7 53. Kd4 Kd7 54. Kc4 Be1 55. Kd3 Bg3 56. Ke4 Kc7 57. Nd6 Bxd6 58. cxd6+ Kxd6 59. h4 c5 60. h5

This is how the game developed

Vidit Gujrathi loses the second game with white pieces after winning a stunning game with black. So we will have two more games at least between the Indian grandmaster and the American, this time with the 10-minute time control with 10 seconds increment for each move.

Here are all the moves

1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nbd7 4. Nf3 e5 5. Bc4 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. a4 c6 8. Re1 h6 9. h3 Re8 10. Be3 Bf8 11. a5 exd4 12. Bxd4 Qc7 13. Bf1 Ne5 14. Nh2 g5 15. Qd2 Be6 16. f4 gxf4 17. Qxf4 Bg7 18. Qf2 a6 19. Na4 Qe7 20. Nb6 Rad8 21. Rad1 Nfd7 22. Nxd7 Rxd7 23. Re3 Kh7 24. Rg3 Rg8 25. Kh1 Rdd8 26. Be2 Bh8 27. Nf1 Rg6 28. Rxg6 fxg6 29. Nh2 Rf8 30. Qg3 h5 31. Nf3 Nxf3 32. Bxf3 h4 33. Qf2 Be5 34. c3 Qg5 35. Bxe5 dxe5 36. Qd2 Qxd2 37. Rxd2 Bxh3 38. gxh3 Rxf3 39. Rd7+ Kh6 40. Rxb7 Rxh3+ 41. Kg2 Rd3 42. Rb6 g5 43. Rxa6 g4 44. Rxc6+ Kg5 45. Rc8 h3+ 46. Kf2 Rd2+ 47. Ke3 Rxb2 48. Re8 h2 49. Rxe5+

This is how the game played out

Heartbreak for SL Narayanan, who loses the second game and is knocked out of the FIDE World Cup.

Here are all the moves from the decisive game that the Indian lost.

And here is how the game played out:

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. h3 O-O 7. Bd3 c5 8. O-O cxd4 9. exd4 Nc6 10. a3 b6 11. Bg5 Bb7 12. Re1 dxc4 13. Bxc4 h6 14. Bh4 e6 15. d5 Na5 16. Ba2 exd5 17. Ne5 g5 18. Bg3 Rc8 19. Qd3 Nc4 20. Re2 Ne4 21. Rxe4 Nxb2 22. Qf3 dxe4 23. Bxf7+ Kh8 24. Qf5 Rc6 25. Nxe4 Nc4 26. Nxc6 Bxc6 27. Rc1 b5 28. Rxc4 bxc4 29. Nd6 Qf6 30. Qc5 Rxf7 31. Qxc6 c3 32. Nxf7+ Qxf7 33. h4

Karthik Venkataraman is through to the fourth round of the FIDE World Cup, thus becoming the fifth Indian in fourth round besides Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, Pentala Harikrishna and Pranav V.

Here’s how the second Karthik Venkataraman vs Bogdan-Daniel Deac game played out:

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 c5 4. Nbd2 cxd4 5. exd4 Qc7 6. c3 Nc6 7. Be2 g6 8. O-O Bg7 9. Re1 O-O 10. Nf1 Bg4 11. g3 Rad8 12. Bf4 Qc8 13. Ne3 Bh3 14. Ng2 Ne4 15. Be3 Rfe8 16. Nf4 Bg4 17. Nd3 h5 18. Nd2 Bf5 19. Rc1 Nd6 20. Nf4 e6 21. h4 e5 22. dxe5 Nxe5 23. Bxa7 Ndc4 24. Bd4 Nxb2 25. Qb3 Nbc4 26. Nxc4 dxc4 27. Qb5 Bd7 28. Qb1 Bc6 29. Kh2 b5 30. Bxe5 Rxe5 31. a4 Rde8 32. axb5 Rxb5 33. Qa2 Rbe5 34. Red1 Bh6 35. Bxc4 Bxf4 36. Bxf7+ Kg7 37. Bxe8 Rxe8 38. Qa7+ Kh6 39. Qd4 Bxc1 40. Rxc1 Qf5 41. Qd2+ Kh7 42. Rg1 Qf3 43. Qd4 Rf8

This is how the game played out

"Very tense game. Just surprising takeover in the end. But it's what happens in a time scramble if there is any life left in the game. It becomes a three-result situation," says Anish Giri on the Chessbase India commentary while discussing good friend Vidit's victory.

Giri, who has already qualified for the FIDE Candidates tournament, was knocked out in the classical portion in Round 3 on Saturday.

What a let off from Karthik, who was in a winning position but could no convert the game. He has to settle for a draw in the first rapid game of the tiebreak. Both players will be back in a must-win game and if that also is held to a draw, then they will play another mini-match of two rapid games with 10 minutes on their clocks.

Here's how the Karthik Venkataraman vs Bogdan-Daniel Deac game played out:

Here are all the moves from the Karthik Venkataraman vs Bogdan-Daniel Deac game:

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Bb5 Nd4 5. O-O c6 6. Bd3 Nxf3+ 7. Qxf3 d6 8. Bc4 Be7 9. d3 O-O 10. a4 Ne8 11. Be3 Nc7 12. d4 exd4 13. Bxd4 Be6 14. Bd3 Ne8 15. Rad1 Qa5 16. Rfe1 Bf6 17. Qe3 Bxd4 18. Qxd4 Qb6 19. Qxb6 axb6 20. f4 f5 21. b3 fxe4 22. Nxe4 Bg4 23. Rd2 Rxf4 24. h3 Bh5 25. g3 Rf8 26. Ng5 h6 27. Ne6 Rf6 28. Nf4 Bf7 29. Re7 g5 30. Ne2 Rb8 31. Nd4 Kf8 32. Rde2 d5 33. Nf5 Bg6 34. g4 Bxf5 35. gxf5 Nd6 36. Rh7 Kg8 37. Re6 Kxh7 38. Rxf6 Rd8 39. Re6 h5 40. f6+ Ne4 41. Re7+ Kg6 42. Rxb7 b5 43. f7 bxa4 44. bxa4 Kg7 45. Ra7 Nd6 46. Be2 g4 47. hxg4 Nxf7 48. g5 Kg8 49. g6 Ne5 50. Bxh5 Rf8 51. Re7 Rf5 52. Be2 Nxg6 53. Rc7 Nf4 54. Bf1 d4 55. Rxc6 Kf7 56. Ra6 Rc5 57. Rd6 Rxc2 58. Rxd4 Ne2+ 59. Bxe2 Rxe2 60. Kf1 Ra2 61. Ke1 Ke6 62. Kd1 Ke5 63. Rh4 Kd6 64. Kc1 Kc7 65. Kb1 Rg2 66. Rc4+ Kb6 67. Rc2 Rg4 68. a5+

Vidit Gujrathi wins the first game after jumping on an error from Sam Shankland. They will be back shortly for the second game. But what an incredible win for the Indian grandmaster, who is chasing a second consecutive qualification to the Candidates tournament after making it to the Toronto event in 2024.

Shankland resigns when he realises there was no way he could stop Vidit's pawns from promoting while his own passed pawn was one square from promoting but Vidit's knight and his queen are on hand to prevent it.

Here are all the moves that gave Vidit a famous victory

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 c6 8. b4 b6 9. a3 a5 10. Bd3 Ba6 11. O-O Qc8 12. Re1 Bxd3 13. Qxd3 Qb7 14. Rec1 h6 15. h3 Rfc8 16. Qd1 Ra7 17. Rab1 axb4 18. axb4 b5 19. Ra1 Rca8 20. Rxa7 Qxa7 21. Qc2 Bd8 22. Nd2 Qa3 23. Rb1 Nf8 24. Rb2 Qa1+ 25. Kh2 Ng6 26. Nb3 Qa7 27. Ra2 Qb7 28. Kg1 Nxf4 29. exf4 Bc7 30. g3 g6 31. h4 h5 32. Kg2 Kg7 33. Rxa8 Qxa8 34. Qa2 Qb7 35. Ne2 Ne4 36. Nec1 Nc3 37. Qc2 Ne4 38. Qa2 Nf6 39. Nd3 Ng8 40. Ne5 Ne7 41. Kf1 f6 42. Nd3 Nf5 43. Ke2 Kf7 44. Kd2 Bb8 45. Kc3 Bc7 46. Qa1 Bb8 47. Qe1 Qa8 48. Kb2 Bc7 49. f3 Qh8 50. Kc3 Ke7 51. Na5 Kd7 52. Nxc6 Qa8 53. g4 Qa3+ 54. Kc2 hxg4 55. fxg4 Ng7 56. Na5 Qa4+ 57. Kc3 Bxa5 58. bxa5 Qxa5+ 59. Nb4 Qa3+ 60. Kc2 Qf3 61. Nd3 Qxg4 62. Qa5 Nf5 63. Qa7+ Ke8 64. c6 Qe2+ 65. Kc3 b4+ 66. Kxb4 Qxd3 67. Qd7+ Kf8 68. c7 Qxd4+ 69. Kb5 Qc4+ 70. Kb6 Qb4+ 71. Ka6 Qc4+ 72. Ka7 Ne7 73. Kb7 d4 74. f5 gxf5 75. h5 Qd5+

Here's how the game played out

In the game between Karthik Venkataraman and Romania's Bogdan-Daniel Deac, the Romanian No 1 is a pawn up.

Here are all the moves:

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Bb5 Nd4 5. O-O c6 6. Bd3 Nxf3+ 7. Qxf3 d6 8. Bc4 Be7 9. d3 O-O 10. a4 Ne8 11. Be3 Nc7 12. d4 exd4 13. Bxd4 Be6 14. Bd3 Ne8 15. Rad1 Qa5 16. Rfe1 Bf6 17. Qe3 Bxd4 18. Qxd4 Qb6 19. Qxb6 axb6 20. f4 f5 21. b3 fxe4 22. Nxe4 Bg4 23. Rd2 Rxf4 24. h3 Bh5

Over 20 moves in the book already for the game between India's SL Narayanan and China's Yu Yangyi. And the eval bar shows that the Chinese GM has a slight edge already.

Here are all the moves so far:

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. Re1 b6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Nxd4 8. Qxd4 a6 9. Bf1 Nc6 10. Qd1 Qc7 11. Be3 Be7 12. c4 O-O 13. Nc3 Bc5 14. a3 d6 15. Rc1 Bb7 16. Qd2 Rac8 17. b4 Bxe3 18. Qxe3 Ne5 19. Na4 Nd7 20. h3 Bc6 21. Nc3 Qb8 22. Red1 Rfd8

Here's what the board looks like:

A Queen's Gambit Declined on the board in Vidit's game with the American grandmaster opting for a Harrwitz Attack while the Indian pulls out a Two Knights Defense.

12 moves already in the book already in the blink of an eye. And you can see that the American has occupied as much space as possible in the centre of the board with his pawns.

here's how the game has played out so far:

We're minutes away from the start of the first game of the tiebreaks. Some exciting rapid games coming up. Players are on the boards

So how does the tiebreak work? Essentially there can be a maximum of four mini-matches featuring two games each. And if things are not decided by then, we get Armageddon, where the player with black pieces just needs a draw for victory.

But before we get to the Armageddon, here is how the time control will work:

If the score is level after the two regular games, after a new drawing of colours done immediately after Game 2, two games shall be played with time control of 15 minutes for each player + 10 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1. (THIS IS WHAT IS GOING TO START NOW)

*IF THE SCORE IS STILL LEVEL AFTER THOSE TWO GAMES* two more games shall be played with time control of 10 minutes for each player + 10 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1.

*IF THE SCORE IS STILL LEVEL AFTER THOSE TWO GAMES* then after a new drawing of colours, 2 games shall be played with time control of 5 minutes for each player + 3 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1.

*IF THE SCORE IS STILL LEVEL AFTER THOSE TWO GAMES*, then after a new drawing of colours, 2 games shall be played with time control of 3 minutes for each player + 2 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1.

*IF THE SCORE IS STILL LEVEL AFTER THOSE TWO GAMES* then we get Armageddon.

HOLA. Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the FIDE World Cup's third round where three Indians will be fighting it out in the tiebreaks today.

This includes Vidit Gujrathi, SL Narayanan and Karthik Venkataraman.

Follow our liveblog for all the action.