Shock exit for world champion Gukesh as Indian stars advance in Goa

In a stunning turn of events at the Chess World Cup, reigning world champion D Gukesh made an unexpected early exit after losing to Frederik Svane of Germany in the third round on Saturday. While Gukesh bowed out in disappointment, fellow Indians Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, P Harikrishna, and V Pranav advanced confidently into the last-32 stage, keeping India’s hopes alive in the prestigious event.

The 19-year-old Gukesh, who has been in sensational form this season, faltered in the second classical game of his match against Svane. Playing the Italian Opening, Gukesh misjudged a critical position that appeared balanced at first but gradually turned against him. The world champion found himself trapped in a difficult knight-and-pawn endgame, where Svane displayed flawless technique to secure a famous win and seal the match 1.5–0.5.

Svane’s victory over the world champion was one of the biggest upsets of the tournament so far, marking a memorable breakthrough for the German player known for his tenacity in complex endgames.

Meanwhile, Arjun Erigaisi continued his impressive run by drawing his second game against Uzbekistan’s Shamsiddin Vokhidov, a result that was enough to take him through with a 1.5–0.5 scoreline. Praggnanandhaa, on the other hand, showed his class by defeating Armenia’s Robert Hovhannisyan. After a draw in the opening game, the Chennai prodigy outplayed his opponent in a commanding display to secure his spot in the next round.

Veteran P Harikrishna and rising star V Pranav also joined the advancing pack. Harikrishna got the better of Belgium’s Daniel Dardha, capitalizing on an early slip by his opponent to close out the match 1.5–0.5. Pranav, who had already won his first game against Lithuania’s Titas Stremavicius, calmly held a draw with the black pieces in the return leg, ensuring smooth progression.

In contrast, Diptayan Ghosh’s dream run came to an end against Armenia’s Gabriel Sargissian. After eliminating the experienced Ian Nepomniachtchi in the previous round, Diptayan struggled to find his footing in the second game and lost 0.5–1.5, ending his campaign.

Elsewhere in the tournament, several top names faced mixed fortunes. China’s Wei Yi, Hungary’s Benjamin Gledura, and India’s Vidit Gujrathi all headed to tiebreaks, while big surprises came from Jose Martínez of Venezuela, who stunned Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov 2–0, and Sweden’s Nils Grandelius, who ousted Azerbaijani star Shakhriyar Mamedyarov.

The results ensured that five Indians Erigaisi, Praggnanandhaa, Harikrishna, Pranav, and S L Narayanan (who will face a tiebreak) remain in contention as the World Cup moves into its decisive knockout phase.

As the competition intensifies, all eyes will now be on the Indian contingent aiming to keep the tricolor flying high, even as Gukesh’s shock departure serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of elite chess.