India’s chess World Cup campaign over

GRANDMASTER Arjun Erigaisi was knocked out of the FIDE World Cup, losing to Wei Yi of China 1.5-2.5 in the first set of tiebreak games here on Wednesday. It was a shocker for Arjun who ran out of luck in the rapid tiebreak games wherein the Chinese put pressure in the first game before eventually drawing while in the second Arjun just lost control and will have to go back home.

- AGENCIES

GM Arjun Erigaisi during the World Cup 2025 quarterfinals tiebreaks held on Wednesday. He lost the match to Wei Yi of China to bow out

(MICHAL WALUSZA/FIDE)

Having drawn both the games under Classical chess, Arjun was black in the first game of rapid and employed the French defense. It did not turn out to be a great choice however as Arjun was soon on the backfoot losing a rook for a minor piece.