Harikrishna dominates Belgian rival in style

India’s impressive run at the World Chess Cup in Goa continued on Saturday, as seasoned Grandmaster P. Harikrishna and youngster V. Pranav became the first Indians to storm into the Round of 32. Both clinched their spots with identical 1.5–0.5 victories, keeping the tricolour flying high in the global arena.

Displaying his trademark composure and strategic sharpness, Harikrishna secured a smooth passage after defeating Belgium’s Daniel Dardha. The Belgian, who had the white pieces in the second game, could not find a way past the Indian veteran’s solid defence. Having lost the first encounter, Dardha was left with no room for recovery.

For 17-year-old V. Pranav, it was another step forward in his breakthrough year. After claiming the first game against Lithuania’s Titas Stremavicius, Pranav showed maturity beyond his age, calmly steering the second game into a draw. His precise handling of a tense rook-and-pawn endgame ensured he advanced without needing tiebreaks.

However, there was disappointment for Diptayan Ghosh, who fell to Armenia’s Gabriel Sargissian. After drawing the opener, Ghosh fresh from his sensational win over Russian star Ian Nepomniachtchi in the previous round struggled to find his rhythm and bowed out with a 0.5–1.5 scoreline.

Meanwhile, higher-ranked compatriots Arjun Erigaisi and R. Praggnanandhaa also advanced. Erigaisi drew his second game against Uzbekistan’s Shamsiddin Vokhidov to complete a 1.5–0.5 victory overall, while Praggnanandhaa sealed his spot with a commanding win over Armenia’s Robert Hovhannisyan after splitting points in the first round.

The performances of these young Indians underline the country’s growing dominance in world chess. With five players Harikrishna, Pranav, Erigaisi, Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh still in contention, India remains one of the most formidable contingents in the tournament.

Elsewhere, several global heavyweights also moved forward. Italy’s Luca Lodici stunned England’s Michael Adams 1.5–0.5, while Poland’s Radoslaw Wojtaszek defeated Vladimir Fedoseev 2–0. Among the top seeds, China’s Wei Yi and France’s Maxime Vachier-Lagrave were pushed into tiebreaks after their matches ended 1–1.

For Indian fans, attention now shifts to the next stage, where the competition stiffens considerably. Young stars like Gukesh, S.L. Narayanan, and Vidit Gujrathi still await their fates in tiebreaks, while V. Karthik too faces a decider after splitting points in his second-round clash.

The third round promises mouth-watering matchups, as India’s emerging talents prepare to lock horns with elite opponents from across the world. With Harikrishna’s experience complementing the youthful energy of Pranav, Erigaisi and Praggnanandhaa, Indian chess looks well-poised to script another memorable chapter on home soil.