Jose Martinez Alcantara, Donchenko, Esipenko and Shankland are at the FIDE World Chess Cup quarterfinal
The FIDE World Chess Cup 2025 is taking place October 30 – November 27 in India. It will features 206 players in 8 knockout rounds of classical games. Each round consists of two classical games, followed by rapid and blitz tiebreaks if necessary. The competition will span nearly a month, with rest days scheduled between key stages to accommodate the intense match schedule. As of today, we have the final 8 players remaining, as the FIDE World Chess Cup has reached its quarterfinal stage. Jose Martinez Alcantara, Donchenko, Esipenko and Shankland have joined Sindarov, Yakubboev, Wei Yi, and Arjun Erigaisi.
The World Cup serves as a critical part of the FIDE World Championship cycle, with the top three finishers qualifying for the 2026 Candidates Tournament, which determines the next challenger for the World Chess Championship title. Live games and live video broadcast will be daily on Chessdom (make sure to check the main page for the latest coverage) , while additional live coverage will be available on Chessdom’s Twitter/X page
World Cup Round 5 Game 1: Sindarov strikes as giants battle to a standstill in Goa
The atmosphere at the Rio Resort in Goa was electric this afternoon as players returned to the boards for another round of top-level action. The spotlight quickly shifted to Board 2, where Levon Aronian and Arjun Erigaisi delivered one of the most engaging and dynamic games of the day, drawing considerable attention from spectators and commentators alike.
The ceremonial first moves were executed by two distinguished guests from the European chess community: Gunnar Björnsson, CEO of the Icelandic Chess Federation and Vice President of the European Chess Union, and Alojzije Janković, also a Vice President of the European Chess Union. Their presence underscored the strong international support and camaraderie surrounding the event.
As the pieces were set in motion, anticipation built around whether the sharp tactical exchange between Aronian and Erigaisi would set the tone for the rest of the afternoon. It certainly did – capturing the spirit of competition that has defined this year’s battles in Goa.
After around ninety minutes of play, the first result of the afternoon arrived. The Peruvian-Mexican phenomenon, GM José Eduardo Martínez Alcántara (2644), continued his remarkable run by securing a solid draw against India’s GM Pentala Harikrishna (2697).
Martínez Alcántara has been producing the tournament of his life. In the previous two rounds, both times with the black pieces, he claimed impressive victories over GMs Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Alexey Sarana, winning the opening game of each match. Today, armed with the white pieces, he entered a deeply theoretical line of the Two Knights Defence, in which White typically gains a pawn at the cost of structural weaknesses and falling behind in development.
Play followed established theory up to move twenty-five, with at least sixteen moves matching top-level over-the-board or correspondence encounters found in current databases. All known predecessors have ended in draws, including one by GM Javokhir Sindarov, also competing in this Round of 16.
Given the speed and confidence with which both players executed their moves, it was evident they were well-prepared and content with a balanced outcome. Harikrishna will enjoy the white pieces in tomorrow’s game, while Martínez Alcántara has already demonstrated lethal form with black, having defeated both his previous opponents from that side of the board.
With both players registering 99% accuracy, a peaceful result was practically inevitable, and fully justified.
About an hour later, a short burst of activity swept through the playing hall as three games concluded within ten minutes, all ending in solid, uneventful draws.
One of these results came from GM Andrey Esipenko (2693), who, after yesterday’s exhausting tiebreak elimination of tournament favourite Vincent Keymer, opted for a calm and risk-free approach against Aleksey Grebnev (2611). Grebnev himself had just survived a taxing tiebreak against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, making a peaceful outcome mutually understandable.
Drawing inspiration from a 2019 encounter in which Esipenko faced GM Rakhmanov (2638), Grebnev arrived fully equipped with home preparation in one of the most solid and respected continuations of the Petrov Defence.
Esipenko attempted to sidestep prior theory with a small refinement – 12.Nb5 instead of the more common 12.Bf4 – but Grebnev remained completely unfazed. He rattled off his first twenty moves with confidence, showing no sign of discomfort.
With a fully symmetrical pawn structure on the board and no practical prospects for either side to create winning chances, the players agreed to a draw on move thirty-one. Accuracy scores hovering around 95% reflected the clean and disciplined play delivered by both competitors.
What awaits tomorrow remains to be seen, but based on today’s balance of power, this match appears a strong candidate to head for tiebreaks, a scenario in which both Esipenko and Grebnev may feel they have realistic chances to outplay the other.
In a symmetrical variation of the English Opening, GM Alexander Donchenko (2641) and GM Lê Quang Liêm (2729) contested a strategically rich, though ultimately balanced, encounter. While the final accuracy scores, an impressive 98% for both players, might suggest a quiet affair, the game was anything but effortless. Both grandmasters invested significant time at key moments, carefully navigating the subtle nuances of the position.
One of the most intriguing moments arose just out of the opening. Holding an extra pawn, Donchenko had the tempting option of 18.axb6 axb6 19.Rfc1, but this line allowed Black dynamic possibilities such as 19…Nc4, granting Lê Quang Liêm sufficient counterplay to maintain equilibrium.
Recognizing the latent danger, and after deliberating for just over ten minutes, Donchenko chose the prudent path with 18.Qc2, returning the pawn and steering the game toward safety. From that moment, the position began to simplify naturally. Forced sequences followed, exchanges swept pieces off the board, and the game peacefully concluded with a draw on move thirty-one.
A clean and professional display from both sides, the game exemplified the high level of precision that has come to define this stage of the tournament.
Before the round began, I found myself—as I often do—chatting with fellow specialists while surveying the match-ups from a distance. Theo from Lichess and Shahid from ChessBase India are two of my usual companions in these pre-game exchanges. As we compared notes, Shahid and I agreed that the encounter between GM Gabriel Sargissian (2624) and GM Nodirbek Yakubboev (2689) was as close to a 50/50 toss-up as one could get.
Although Yakubboev holds the higher rating on paper, Sargissian’s reputation as a rock-solid competitor, especially with the White pieces, made the prediction far from straightforward. Today’s clash, a pristine 99% accuracy effort by both players, once again highlighted the immense depth and technical discipline of these two grandmasters: no mistakes, no inaccuracies, simply a flawless game.
Sargissian repeated his trusted Catalan, but was unable to carve out any meaningful edge from the opening. He ventured into a line that momentarily sacrifices a pawn in pursuit of active piece play, yet Yakubboev calmly returned the material, opting instead to secure a superior pawn structure.
Subsequent simplifications flowed naturally, and with the position fully equalized, and both players still holding more than twenty-five minutes on their clocks, the game concluded in a draw on move thirty-two.
A clean, professional effort from two world-class competitors, exactly the sort of poised balance one expects from a match-up this finely matched
More than an hour passed before the next result came in, the heavyweight showdown between two of the top contenders for the title: GM Arjun Erigaisi (2773) and GM Levon Aronian (2722).
Tipped by many as the game of the day, and by others as a potential “dream final,” the encounter certainly lived up to its billing. Despite the absence of mistakes or inaccuracies, yet another 99% accuracy game, there was no shortage of tension, ideas, and instructive subtleties.
As early as move three, Aronian threw a surprise into the mix with 3…Nd7, an offbeat but playable sideline that appears in less than 0.5% of games arising from this classical Queen’s Gambit structure. Amusingly, Erigaisi himself had ventured the same line in 2024 against former World Champion Ding Liren, and he showed no sign of discomfort today. He replied swiftly, and the players soon found themselves navigating fresh territory.
The next key moment arrived on move sixteen, when Aronian made an enterprising decision that allowed an exchange and left his castled king’s structure severely damaged.
Faced with the direct threat against f6, many players would choose a consolidating move such as 16…Qe7 or 16…Nh5. Aronian, however, demonstrated the depth of his strategic insight once again, opting for the remarkable 16…Rd8!, the engine’s top choice.
After 17.Bxf6 gxf6, Black’s king position looked compromised, but the two-time World Cup winner evaluated the situation with absolute clarity: White would struggle to exploit the structural weaknesses, and Black would later benefit from the newly opened g-file.
His judgement proved spot-on. The position gradually liquidated toward equality, and with the balance never breaking, the players agreed to a draw on move forty-one. Erigaisi and Aronian left the board together, chatting amicably as they analyzed their shared battle – a fitting end to a world-class contest between two elite competitors.
One of Team USA’s three remaining contenders in the World Cup, GM Sam Shankland (2654), may well have used up one of his nine lives this afternoon in his tense encounter with GM Daniil Dubov (2684).
Dubov hinted at the possibility of entering the sharp and well-analysed Marshall Attack in the Closed Ruy Lopez, prompting Shankland to wisely sidestep the line: today was not the day for diving into pages of theory packed with tactical landmines.
The game remained balanced deep into the middlegame. Only after the queens came off did the first major decision arise, when Shankland boldly chose to sacrifice an exchange in return for a dangerous passed pawn on the seventh rank. The engines approved, though the plan carried plenty of practical risk.
With the rook on e1 attacked, the natural 21.Rd1 was a solid alternative. Instead, Shankland opted for the ambitious sequence 21.Rxc7 Bxe1 22.Nxe1 Rf7 23.b6, emerging with two pawns for the exchange and more than adequate compensation thanks to his active minor pieces and powerful passer.
It was a fascinating moment, especially given Shankland’s own advice from one of his best-known books, Small Steps 2 Success: Mastering Passed Pawn Play, where he warns that pawns pushed cannot be taken back, a principle he would soon test under pressure.
A few moves later, the position remained roughly balanced, and both 42.b5 and 42.fxe4 would have kept matters under firm control. Instead, Shankland played 42.f4?, a move that went directly against his own teachings, seriously compromising his structure and inviting Black’s counterplay.
Dubov had not one, but two opportunities to seize the win with the powerful thrust 42…e3!, followed by 43…Be4 or 43…Ba2–c4, depending on where White placed his king. Instead, Dubov erred with 42…Ba2, missing the key resource, and again failed to play …e3 on the subsequent move.
Once the dust settled, Shankland managed to stabilise and escape with a crucial draw, a result that keeps his hopes alive and may yet carry him into the tiebreaks.
The Chinese school of chess has long mastered the intricacies of the Petrov Defence, with figures such as Li Chao employing it effortlessly as a reliable and solid weapon with Black. And although GM Wei Yi (2754) is celebrated for his sharp tactical flair, his command of the Russian Defence is nothing short of exceptional.
Facing GM Samuel Sevian (2698), the Chinese superstar delivered a superb performance, navigating every nuance of the position with remarkable clarity. In a clean and confident effort, Wei Yi produced yet another 99% accuracy game, neutralising all of Sevian’s ideas and tactical attempts before they could take root.
With this smooth draw, Wei Yi heads into the second game with the White pieces, placing him as the clear favourite to advance to the quarterfinals, a trajectory that seems well in line with the form he has displayed throughout the event.
The last game of the day was also the only decisive result, as GM Javokhir Sindarov delivered a superb victory to take the lead in his match against GM Frederik Svane. Showcasing flawless endgame technique, Sindarov demonstrated the power of the two bishops, steadily constricting Black’s position and displaying exemplary management of both the position and the clock.
Yet despite his excellent overall performance, it was a middlegame moment that particularly caught my attention.
After spending twelve of his remaining twenty-five minutes, Sindarov chose the principled 28.dxe5, a strong move that either wins a pawn outright or secures magnificent diagonals for the bishop pair. A completely sound, thematic decision.
However, the engine indicates that White had an even more ambitious and powerful option: 28.d5!, after which …Qd7 is met with the stunning 29.Rxf6!, sacrificing the exchange to launch a direct assault on Black’s castled king. There is no immediate forced win, but after 29…gxf6 30.Qd2, White’s pieces pour toward the kingside, and the resulting initiative is enormous.
I have little doubt that Sindarov examined both possibilities deeply before opting for the low-risk, positionally sound continuation. Still, I can’t help but wonder: in a friendly blitz game, free from match pressure and long-term consequences… which line would he have chosen?
World Cup Round 5 Game 2: Two Uzbek players progress
Round after round, the FIDE World Cup in Goa continues to deliver high-level chess and gripping storylines. Today’s classical games brought a mixture of precise technique, strategic battles, and edge-of-the-seat tension, with several matches heading toward the inevitable tiebreaks.
From commanding wins to miraculous escapes, the field once again showcased the depth and fighting spirit of the world’s elite players.
It was a difficult day for Armenian chess, marked by the sudden and emotionally heavy exit of two of its most iconic figures. Levon Aronian, once the heartbeat of Armenian teams and now a pillar of American chess, fell after a tense, error-studded battle.
Minutes later, Gabriel Sargissian, long admired for his team heroics and impeccable opening preparation, also bowed out after a single, costly misstep. Their simultaneous elimination closed a chapter of resilience and brilliance that has defined Armenian chess for two decades.
But if anyone needed a reminder of the steely resolve that made Uzbekistan Olympiad champions, today’s games provided it. Under pressure, under fire, or under the clock, the Uzbek players simply refused to break.
Javokhir Sindarov coolly neutralized every attempt to unbalance him, while Nodirbek Yakubboev struck with cold precision to secure his spot in the next stage. Their collective discipline and composure have become one of the defining narratives of the event: unyielding, confident, and remarkably mature for such a young squad.
Let’s take a closer look at this afternoon’s action in the Goa Resort Rio.
With so much at stake, it was clear from the outset that several matches were destined for the tiebreaks. And indeed, the first two games to finish — just shy of the two-hour mark — were precisely the two I had predicted before the round began.
The round was officially opened by GM Humpy Koneru, runner-up of the Women’s World Championship and reigning two-time Women’s World Rapid Champion, who performed the first ceremonial move on Board 3 for former World Rapid Champion GM Daniil Dubov.
GM Daniil Dubov’s (2684) classical-game strategy in this event has been remarkably consistent: minimise risk, avoid unnecessary complications, and steer the match toward rapid tiebreaks, where he excels as a former World Rapid Champion.
It was therefore no surprise that he opted to reproduce a line from a previous game between GM Sam Shankland (2654) and GM Dmitry Andreikin in the Grünfeld Defence: a highly theoretical path that, with accurate play, leads almost inevitably to a draw.
In this variation, Dubov sacrifices a pawn, but with precise moves there is virtually no danger of losing (or winning). A 99% accuracy rate tells the story well enough.
I caught up with Shankland as he was leaving the venue. After congratulating him on his performance so far, he referenced that very game against Andreikin: “It’s a dead draw. I think he wants to play the tiebreak.”
The second game to finish, also showing an impressive 98% accuracy, was the encounter between GMs Aleksey Grebnev (2611) and Andrey Esipenko (2693).
In a fully symmetrical Queen’s Gambit Accepted, neither player was willing to take even the slightest risk, both likely believing they hold the upper hand in the tiebreaks. With two open files on the board, they exchanged rooks on one of them and then repeated moves, reaching the thirty-move mark with most of the pieces still in play.
This match has been the most evenly balanced of all eight pairings, and predicting a favourite in the rapid segment feels nearly impossible. It would not be surprising if this one ends up going all the way to blitz before a winner emerges.
Over an hour passed before the next result came in. With White, GM Pentala Harikrishna (2697) attempted to press GM José Eduardo Martínez Alcántara (2644) in an offbeat line of the King’s Indian Attack.
The former Indian Olympiad team member managed to create a mild pull in the early middlegame, but Martínez Alcántara’s defensive technique was flawless this afternoon. After a series of mass simplifications, the players agreed to a draw on move thirty-five in a level endgame.
This tiebreak is also extremely hard to call. Martínez Alcántara is a blitz specialist — his online results rival those of Carlsen and Nakamura — and he currently holds a slightly higher FIDE rapid rating. But Harikrishna’s vast experience and steadiness under pressure mean he will be anything but an easy opponent.
Within the space of just ten minutes, the first two decisive results of the day arrived back-to-back and, with them, the elimination of the two Armenian legends still remaining in the event: Levon Aronian (now representing the USA) and Gabriel Sargissian.
The clash between heavyweights GMs Levon Aronian (2722) and Arjun Erigaisi (2773) delivered all the excitement one could hope for. The opening and middlegame remained largely balanced, but as the players approached time trouble, the tension rose and the mistakes began to appear.
Aronian has just played 33.Qf2–f1, a move that looks perfectly normal at first glance, but a hidden tactical shot was lurking. Erigaisi, likely focused on other strategic ideas, missed the powerful 33…Bxh2!, winning a pawn. The point is revealed after 34.Kxh2 Rxe3! 35.Rxe3 Qf4+, picking up the rook with a winning position. Instead, 33…Re6? was played.
Even so, giving a player of Erigaisi’s caliber a second chance is rarely survivable. A few moves later, under increasing pressure, Aronian finally faltered.
Here, Aronian needed to play 38.Rf1 to keep the game going. Instead, his fatal 38.Re1?? allowed the crushing response 38…Nh3!, and with it, his elimination.
White’s queen is completely overloaded, unable to defend both the rook and the bishop (which is itself guarding against mate on h2). After 39.gxh3 Rxe1 followed by …Qxf3#, or the spectacular 39.Qf1 Nxg1 40.Rxe6 Qh2#, there is no escape.
“It was a tough match; at some point, I started regretting some of my moves, and I wasn’t sure about my position. When he offered me a draw, my confidence increased,” Erigaisi explained afterward in his interview with Charlize van Zyl.
The second Armenian player to be eliminated today was GM Gabriel Sargissian (2624), who, in truth, committed only a single serious mistake, but it was enough to cost him both the game and the match against Uzbekistan’s GM Nodirbek Yakubboev (2689).
With the Black pieces, Sargissian had been under pressure from the very beginning. Confronted with the powerful two-bishop setup and an intensifying kingside attack, he spent six of his remaining ten minutes before faltering with 29…Nc6?. Yakubboev pounced immediately: 30.Qxg7 Qxa4 31.Qf8+ Kd7, and now the cold-blooded 32.Ba3!
This quiet but deadly move shuts down all queenside counterplay, prepares a queen exchange, and leads to a winning endgame thanks to the dominant bishop pair.
Instead, the only move to stay afloat was 29…Qxa4. Crucially, after that, 30.Qxg7 would no longer work due to the interposing 30…Qc6+, winning for Black.
A tough exit for Sargissian, but one that caps a remarkable and deeply commendable run in this event.
The three remaining games all reached move forty and headed into extra time. The first of them to conclude, and the one that confirmed another Uzbek qualification, was GM Frederik Svane (2638) drawing his game against GM Javokhir Sindarov (2721).
Needing only a draw to advance, Sindarov chose the Open Spanish, one of Black’s most reliable and principled systems. Svane pushed hard, eventually even winning a pawn in the endgame, but Sindarov’s deep understanding of the resulting structures allowed him to neutralise every attempt and steer the game safely toward equality.
After being the last player to leave the venue yesterday, Sindarov understandably declined an interview, but Charlize is not someone who gives up easily. Check it out!
One of my personal favourites, GM Wei Yi (2754), continues his march toward the quarterfinals, and with each passing round, he grows into one of the quiet favourites to secure a coveted spot in the 2026 Candidates Tournament.
Facing GM Samuel Sevian (2698) – who, it must be said, has enjoyed a superb event – Wei Yi calmly converted an extra pawn he won in the opening, securing a smooth victory and earning himself a rest day while many of his potential rivals head to the tiebreaks.
At this level, a missed tactic in the opening is rarely forgiven. Sevian had several equalising moves at his disposal — 10…Be6, 10…Re8, even 10…Qf6 — but instead chose the ambitious 10…Bf5?, and was immediately punished by 11.Nxc6!
A bolt from the blue that stunned the playing hall and left spectators murmuring in disbelief. White wins a clean pawn, as after 11…bxc6 12.Bxd6 the bishop on f5 falls.
“I am excited. I was lucky today. I went for a boring game because a draw was good enough to reach the tiebreaks, but suddenly my opponent dropped a pawn. Maybe he could have held with very accurate play, but the pressure was high,” Wei Yi explained after the game.
Wei Yi took his time, showed exemplary technique, and calmly converted, a result that will have Chinese chess fans around the world dreaming of seeing him compete in Cyprus in April 2026.
And for anyone who still isn’t familiar with what Wei Yi is capable of, I strongly recommend revisiting his legendary 2015 masterpiece against Cuban GM Lázaro Bruzón.
The final game of the round stretched well into the fifth hour of play. In an extraordinary save, GM Le Quang Liem (2729) escaped a completely lost rook ending against GM Alexander Donchenko (2641), forcing a tiebreak in which many would now consider him the favourite.
Not only is Le a former World Blitz Champion, but he will also carry a powerful psychological edge into tomorrow’s rapid games after surviving what looked, for most of the afternoon, like a certain defeat.
Donchenko had so many winning chances that it’s difficult to single out just one — but the last opportunity was perhaps the clearest.
After 69…Kg2 70.Rg6+, the simple 70…Rg3! would have sealed the win. White has no way of stopping the advancing h-pawn, and the technical task is straightforward. Donchenko almost certainly saw this idea, but perhaps believed that 69…Ke2?? would also lead to victory.
Sadly for him, 70.Ra6! is one of the very few drawing moves in the position. The rook is perfectly placed to give perpetual checks along the first and second ranks while the king marches toward the h-pawn, and Donchenko’s advantage evaporated on the spot.
The German grandmaster left the hall visibly crestfallen, fully aware of the win that had slipped away. Will he recover emotionally in time for tomorrow’s tiebreak? Stay tuned to find out.
The FIDE World Cup in Goa reached a boiling point today as four intense tiebreak matches unfolded, each with a place in the quarterfinals on the line. With no more second chances and yesterday’s classical draws setting the stage, today’s rapid and blitz battles brought drama, tension, and decisive outcomes across the board.
Before the games began, the ceremonial first move was made for Lê Quang Liêm on Board 2, by Mr. Kedar J Naik, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Goa and Chairman of the Goa Tourism Development Corporation.
Sam Shankland and Andrey Esipenko secured clean wins early in the first rapid portion against Daniil Dubov and Alexey Sarana respectively, while José Martínez defeated Pentala Harikrishna in the 10+10 rapid. Alexander Donchenko took Lê Quang Liêm into blitz territory before stamping his ticket to the next round. The quarterfinal lineup is now complete, and as the dust settled, four more players advanced with confidence and momentum on their side.
Round of 16 tiebreaks results:
- Daniil Dubov 1-3 Sam Shankland
- Andrey Esipenko 2.5-1.5 Aleksey Grebnev
- José Martinez 3.5-2.5 Harikrishna Pentala
- Alexander Donchenko 4.5-3.5 Lê Quang Liêm
Here’s how the day played out:
Daniil Dubov – Sam Shankland
In earlier interviews, Daniil Dubov made no secret of his strategy: to steer matches into tiebreaks. As a former World Rapid Champion, he felt this format played to his strengths. He also claimed that playing solidly with White and pushing with Black was the best way to capitalize on opponent’s overextending.
But today, Sam Shankland flipped that plan on its head. Playing White in the first rapid game, he unleashed a novelty in the opening that led to an imbalanced position and early initiative on his side. With pressure mounting and the clock on his side, Shankland methodically limited Dubov’s options. Dubov, rarely short of creative ideas, struggled to find counterplay and instead fell into mistake after mistake, resulting in a convincing win for the American.
The second game, a symmetrical English, saw early queen exchanges and a dry position that offered little for either side. A draw seemed impending, but Dubov overpushed in the endgame, losing the game and with it, his World Cup run came to an end.
After the match, Shankland reflected on reaching the quarterfinals once before in 2021, a run that ended painfully at the hands of Sergey Karjakin in tiebreaks. “That’s haunted me ever since,” he admitted, adding that he now hopes to “banish the demon” for good.
Andrey Esipenko – Alexey Grebnev
It raised eyebrows when Andrey Esipenko took relatively quick draws in his classical games against Arseniy Grebnev. But if anyone doubted his strategy, the first rapid game removed all uncertainty. After a Petroff turned into a wild opposite-side castling battle, Esipenko seized the initiative by move 14 and was in complete control by move 20. It was a dominant win.
The second game was a stark contrast and stretched all the way to move 145. Esipenko, now with Black, came out of the opening in a stable position. When it looked like both players were shuffling pieces with no progress, Esipenko made a bold choice to open up the queenside. This ambition backfired with a missed tactic, and suddenly Grebnev was up a pawn. But nerves kicked in and Grebnev misplayed the critical move order and let Esipenko seize control once more.
The game soon turned into a technical endgame with each side down to a rook and Grebnev holding two pawns to Esipenko’s one. Esipenko, calm and prepared, navigated the position to a theoretical draw. Ironically, by move 145, both players had more time on their clocks than they did on move 50.
With this match victory, Esipenko reached the deepest stage of a FIDE World Cup in his career.
Harikrishna Pentala – José Martinez
This was widely expected to be the longest match of the day, especially after the first two rapid games ended in uneventful draws. Much of the chatter centered around José Martínez’s reputation as a blitz expert, regularly beating the world’s best online. That meant Harikrishna’s best chances were in the rapid phase.
In their first rapid game, the players entered a Richter-Rauzer Sicilian and while both appeared prepared, a few subtle inaccuracies left Harikrishna with isolated doubled pawns and passive pieces. Martínez, whose pieces worked seamlessly together, activated his rooks and pushed the kingside majority. The result was a smooth breakthrough and the first decisive game of their match – a must-win situation for Harikrishna in game two.
In the second game, Harikrishna opted for an offbeat Caro-Kann with …Na6 on the third move, likely intending to avoid his opponent’s preparation. The opponents quickly entered unexplored territory and a critical position arose at move 21:
Harikrishna quickly played 20…Nd3?, a move which our commentator Peter Leko exclaimed is a good move if it does not lose. Martinez had to see the important move 21.g4! and after 21…Qe4 suddenly 22.Bxf7+ gives White a huge advantage as capturing is not possible due to Ng5. Instead, Martinez played 21.Rad1 and the position became equal once more. In his post-game interview, he acknowledged seeing this line but decided to not enter the complications.
Even so, the move g4 was played a few turns later, this time with full effect. Harikrishna erred instantly and Martinez seized a decisive advantage. With everything in hand, Jose chose a threefold repetition to seal the draw and punch his ticket to quarterfinals.
In his interview, Martinez issued a spirited challenge to the field: “Those who want to go far in this World Cup have to get through me.” With his confidence and composure, it’s easy to see why he’s becoming one of the breakout names of the tournament.
Alexander Donchenko – Lê Quang Liêm
The last match of the day to finish briefly seemed like it would actually be the first match to finish after Alexander Donchenko struck first with the black pieces. After yesterday’s tense and heartbreaking draw where one misstep in the endgame cost Alexander Donchenko immediate entry to the quarterfinals, it was interesting to see how he would perform today, in his very first tiebreak.
He opted for the Grünfeld, and although Lê Quang accepted structural weaknesses in exchange for initiative, Donchenko calmly turned those doubled pawns into a winning passed pawn and closed out the game under time pressure.
Needing a win, Lê Quang played the Modern in game two and launched an ambitious kingside pawn storm. At one point, the match hung in the balance; a critical bishop sacrifice was needed to secure a draw. Donchenko, however, failed to see this vital tactical line, an error that Lê Quang immediately exploited. He seized the opportunity to equalize, forcing the match into a blitz tiebreak.
The first blitz game finished quickly, even before Martinez concluded his interview! Both players, possibly tired, made a quick draw. A curious decision by Donchenko, who had the black pieces, as in all the games so far, Black was the winner!
Then came a decisive game two: a sharp Nimzo-Indian that began quietly before exploding tactically.
Donchenko exploited weaknesses on the kingside and capped the attack with the stunning 31.Qg7+! A move which he called a “cheapo trick” secured him the decisive advantage after 31…Rxg7 32.fxg7 Kg8 33.Nf6+. They played on for a bit, Donchenko holding his nerves, eventually converting the win and being the final player to qualify for the quarterfinals.
Eight players now remain: Arjun Erigaisi, Wei Yi, Javokhir Sindarov, Nodirbek Yakubboev, Sam Shankland, Andrey Esipenko, José Martínez, and Alexander Donchenko. They’ve arrived here through a mix of classical wins and nail-biting tiebreaks. Tomorrow, the quarterfinals begin. With no easy matchups, no clear favourites, and the podium now within reach, we’re guaranteed to see top-level, fighting chess from every player. Stay tuned!
Game 1 of Round 6 will be played on November 17 at 3 PM local time.
Written by IM Michael Rahal, WIM Charlize van Zyl (Goa, India)
Photos: Eteri Kublashvili