India miss out on Candidates spots as FIDE Chess World Cup campaign ends in quarters

Arjun Erigaisi drew both classical games before losing in the rapid tiebreaks.

India’s top ranked and second seed Arjun Erigaisi bowed out of the FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 after suffering a narrow defeat to China’s top ranked Wei Yi in a tense quarter-final tiebreak today. With Erigaisi’s exit, India’s journey in this year’s World Cup also came to an end.

In the closely fought encounter, Erigaisi held Yi to two solid draws in the classical games but could not convert position in his favour in the rapid tiebreaks, losing the decisive second game after a marathon 79 – move battle featuring the Petrov’s defense. The game went on till the checkmate in a bishop + pawn against King endgame. 

Erigaisi, who arrived at the quarter-finals in impressive form, having defeated former World Cup champion Levon Aronian in the Round 5 clash faced a stiff challenge from the Chinese no.1. 

With the classical stage ending 1:1, the match proceeded to the rapid tiebreaks. Erigaisi, playing with black in the first rapid game, defended accurately from a difficult position and salvaged a draw. This set up a must-win or at least must-not-lose scenario in the second rapid game for the Indian prodigy.

The decisive game seemed equal until Erigaisi committed a positional blundered with 41. Rf3 and Yi was able to convert from there on gaining a two pawn advantage in a position with same color Bishops on the board. Eventually, Wei Yi was able to promote and end game as Erigaisi refused to resign.

Also Read: ‘This is a historic moment’: Anurag Thakur praises AICF as India hosts FIDE World Cup after 20 years

Erigaisi’s exit from the quarter-finals means India will not secure a Candidates Tournament spot through this year’s World Cup. For most Indian players, the World Cup remains the toughest route to qualification because of the unforgiving knockout format. 

However, R. Praggnanandhaa stands out as a key exception as the young prodigy has already qualified for the Candidates 2026. As for the FIDE World Cup, it currently has two Uzbeks – Javikhir Sindarov and Nodirbek Yakuboev who will face each other while Wei Yi will take on Andrey Espineko.

The winners will head not only to the finals but also seal a spot in the Candidates 2026 while losers will play for the 3rd place and vie for one last opportunity to qualify for the same event. 

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