FIDE World Cup 2025 R5.2: Arjun Erigaisi elegantly eliminates Levon Aronian, Harikrishna to play tie-breaks
Arjun Erigaisi defeated his second consecutive legend, Levon Aronian, to advance to the Quarterfinals of FIDE World Cup 2025. This is the second consecutive edition where Arjun has reached the Quarterfinal stage. His sixth round opponent will be Wei Yi (CHN). Both Arjun and Wei are undefeated so far. Arjun became the first player to secure his place the Quarterfinals in this edition. Pentala Harikrishna drew his second Classical game against Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara (MEX). They will have to play tie-breaks tomorrow. Nodirbek Yakubboev and Javokhir Sindarov are the two Uzbekistan players to have secured their place in the final eight. Round 5 tie-break games start tomorrow at 3 p.m. IST. Photos: Shahid Ahmed
Wei, Sindarov and Yakubboev also advance
The Quarterfinals has one Indian, one Chinese and two Uzbek players. Four quarterfinalists have been determined today and four more will be found out tomorrow.
Sindarov - Frederik: 1.5-0.5
GM Frederik Svane (GER, 2640) tried to create imbalances to keep chances against GM Javokhir Sindarov (UZB, 2721). However, Sindarov did not give an ounce of opportunity to his opponent and managed to draw the game comfortably to advance to the Quarterfinals. He will have to wait till tomorrow to find out the winner of the match between GM Pentala Harikrishna and GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara (MEX).
Aronian - Arjun: 1.5-0.5
GM Arjun Erigaisi (2769) battled GM Levon Aronian's (USA, 2728) mindgames quite well.
Aronian offered a draw after playing 31.Ne3. Arjun declined which Aronian probably knew that he will because Arjun loves to fight. Aronian mentioned this trick after a Chennai Grand Masters 2024 tournament where he did something similar. The idea is just to rattle your opponent. However, Arjun was prepared for this, so it backfired for the legend. 31...Nxe3 32.Bxe3 Kg7 33.Qf1?? was a blunder Bxh2 would have given Black a decisive advantage. Arjun spotted it after playing 33...Re6. After a few moves, the maestro blundered again 38.Re1??
Arjun found the beautiful finish 38...Nh3! and his opponent resigned as it was over. What a fantastic way for Arjun to eliminate Aronian, secure his place in the Quarterfinals and write a new chapter in the healthy rivalry between himself and Aronian, one that is full of mutual respect and admiration.
Dubov - Shankland: 1-1
The second Classical game between GM Sam Shankland (USA, 2649) and GM Daniil Dubov (2674) was a relatively calm draw. They will have to play tie-breaks tomorrow.
Liem - Donchenko: 1-1
GM Alexander Donchenko (GER, 2641) missed plenty of opportunities to win against GM Liem Quang Le (VIE, 2729) in the rook endgame. If his tournament comes to an end tomorrow, this game might haunt him.
Gabriel - Yakubboev: 0.5-1.5
GM Gabriel Sargissian (ARM, 2616) made a late blunder in the queen and two minor piece endgame against GM Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB, 2689). The Uzbek seized his opportunity and became the first of his country to secure his place in the Quarterfinals in this edition. He will have to wait few more hours to find out his opponent - the winner of the tie-breaks between GM Liem Quang Le (VIE) and GM Alexander Donchenko (GER).
Esipenko - Grebnev: 1-1
The second Classical game between GM Andrey Esipenko (2681) and GM Aleksey Grebnev (2617) was another uneventful draw.
Wei - Sevian: 1.5-0.5
GM Samuel Sevian (USA, 2701) made a paltry mistake which cost him a pawn early in the game against GM Wei Yi (CHN, 2753).
11.Nxc6! dropped a pawn. Eventually in the endgame, Sevian made an incorrect decision with his rook.
25...Rd2 would have kept the game going. 25...Rd7?? was the final mistake 26.Bh4+- Nxf4 27.Re7+ and White went on to win the game eventually.
Harikrishna - Jose: 1-1
The second Classical game between GM Pentala Harikrishna (2690) and GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara (MEX, 2644) also ended in a draw. Tie-breaks will determine the Quarterfinalist between them.
For more photos, please click here.
Round 5.1 scores
GM Pentala Harikrishna - GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara (MEX): 1-1
GM Levon Aronian (USA) - GM Arjun Erigaisi: 0.5-1.5
