NEW DELHI: In a gripping day of rapid battles at the FIDE World Cup 2025 on Thursday, India’s Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi finally broke through the defences of Argentina’s 12-year-old sensation Faustino Oro to secure a spot in the third round. Joining him in the next stage were young Indian stars Pranav V and Pranesh M, who also registered impressive victories in their respective ties.
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Vidit, who was held to draws in the two classical games, showed his experience and composure with the black pieces to defeat Oro in 52 moves in the second rapid game. The 31-year-old admitted the contest was far from easy.
“It feels good to qualify for the next round. It was not an easy match, so it feels good all the more,” said Vidit, reflecting on the tense two-day battle.
He also heaped praise on the Argentine prodigy, calling him “special” among the new generation of computer-trained players.
“The way young players play chess is very different because they have grown up with computers and have much more experience than the previous generation. He is special because at 12, he plays like a seasoned player.”
Vidit will now face USA’s Sam Shankland, who ousted veteran Vasyl Ivanchuk in his match.
Elsewhere, world junior champion Pranav V bounced back from a classical defeat to beat Norway’s Aryan Tari in the first rapid game and hold him in the second to progress.
“I just tried to play my game and not think about the earlier rounds. My preparations worked out,” said Pranav, who next meets Titas Stremavicius of Lithuania.
Pranesh M also advanced after outplaying Germany’s Dimitrij Kollars with black in 48 moves. He next faces Vincent Keymer.
In another major upset, 10th seed Hans Niemann was knocked out by Italy’s Lorenzo Lodici in a marathon 77-move encounter.
India results (Round 2, Tiebreak)
GM Vidit Gujrathi bt IM Faustino Oro (ARG) (2.5:1.5 aggregate)
GM Pranav V bt GM Aryan Tari (NOR) (2.5:1.5 aggregate)
GM Raunak Sadhwani lost GM Robert Hovhannisyan (ARM) (1:3 aggregate)
GM Pranesh M beat GM Dmitrij Kollars (GER) (3:1 aggregate)
GM Nihal Sarin lost to GM Stamatis Kourkoulos-Arditis (GRE) (1.5:2.5 aggregate)
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
Vidit, who was held to draws in the two classical games, showed his experience and composure with the black pieces to defeat Oro in 52 moves in the second rapid game. The 31-year-old admitted the contest was far from easy.
“It feels good to qualify for the next round. It was not an easy match, so it feels good all the more,” said Vidit, reflecting on the tense two-day battle.
He also heaped praise on the Argentine prodigy, calling him “special” among the new generation of computer-trained players.
“The way young players play chess is very different because they have grown up with computers and have much more experience than the previous generation. He is special because at 12, he plays like a seasoned player.”
Vidit will now face USA’s Sam Shankland, who ousted veteran Vasyl Ivanchuk in his match.
Elsewhere, world junior champion Pranav V bounced back from a classical defeat to beat Norway’s Aryan Tari in the first rapid game and hold him in the second to progress.
“I just tried to play my game and not think about the earlier rounds. My preparations worked out,” said Pranav, who next meets Titas Stremavicius of Lithuania.
Pranesh M also advanced after outplaying Germany’s Dimitrij Kollars with black in 48 moves. He next faces Vincent Keymer.
In another major upset, 10th seed Hans Niemann was knocked out by Italy’s Lorenzo Lodici in a marathon 77-move encounter.
India results (Round 2, Tiebreak)
GM Vidit Gujrathi bt IM Faustino Oro (ARG) (2.5:1.5 aggregate)
GM Pranav V bt GM Aryan Tari (NOR) (2.5:1.5 aggregate)
GM Raunak Sadhwani lost GM Robert Hovhannisyan (ARM) (1:3 aggregate)
GM Pranesh M beat GM Dmitrij Kollars (GER) (3:1 aggregate)
GM Nihal Sarin lost to GM Stamatis Kourkoulos-Arditis (GRE) (1.5:2.5 aggregate)
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