Diptayan Ghosh Upsets Ian Nepomniachtchi; Harikrishna Advances to Round 3 at FIDE World Cup 2025

Indian Grandmasters delivered an outstanding performance at the ongoing FIDE World Cup 2025 in Panaji. Diptayan Ghosh pulled off a sensational upset, defeating former world championship finalist Ian Nepomniachtchi with the black pieces. Ghosh capitalized on an early inaccuracy by the Russian and sealed the win in just 47 moves — one of the biggest surprises of the tournament so far.

Meanwhile, experienced GM Pentala Harikrishna advanced to the third round after outplaying Russia’s Arseniy Nesterov in a commanding 29-move victory that featured a sharp queen sacrifice early in the game.

The Indian charge continued as Gukesh D cruised past Kazakhstan’s Kazybek Nogerbek in 59 moves, while Arjun Erigaisi won both games against Martin Petrov to secure a smooth passage into the next round.

However, several Indian stars — including R Praggnanandhaa, Vidit Gujrathi, Raunak Sadhwani, and S.L. Narayanan — were pushed into tie-breaks after drawing their classical games.

For Diptayan Ghosh, the victory marks a career-defining moment in his first-ever World Cup appearance. His confident play and composure against one of the sport’s elite underline the growing depth of Indian chess talent on the global stage.