India’s challenge in the FIDE World Cup 2025 came to an end on Wednesday after GM Arjun Erigaisi went down against China’s GM Wei Yi in the quarterfinal tiebreak here. Arjun was the only Indian left in the fray at the quarterfinal stage, and after drawing both the classical games, the tiebreak was always going to be a tricky contest.
The 22-year-old from Warangal went for the French Defense in the first tiebreak game with black, and it looked like the Indian was in trouble in the middle game. But Wei’s error on the 27th move, choosing a rather safe move, allowed Arjun to mount a comeback and ensured that the game ended in a draw after 66 moves.
Erigaisi, who had lost the quarterfinals tiebreak in the 2023 edition against compatriot Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, needed to break Wei’s Petrov defence to find a win in the second game with white.
