Vidit Gujrathi Defeats Argentine Prodigy; Young Indians Pranav, Pranesh Shine in Round 3

India’s strong showing at the FIDE World Cup 2025 continued on Thursday, November 6, as several of its top players, led by GM Vidit Gujrathi, progressed to the third round.

Joining him in the next stage are Pranav V, Pranesh M, and a host of other Indian grandmasters, marking another day of dominance for the country’s contingent in Baku.

Vidit showcased both composure and tactical depth to defeat 12-year-old Argentine prodigy Faustino Oro, one of the youngest competitors in the tournament. After two tense classical games ended level, the Indian grandmaster drew upon his experience in rapid play, scoring a decisive win in the second rapid game with black in 52 moves. “It feels good to qualify for the next round. The match wasn’t easy, but that makes the victory all the more satisfying,” Vidit said after the win.

He also praised his opponent: “Players like Oro are different — they’ve grown up using engines and training methods far more advanced than before. He’s special because, at just 12, he already plays like a professional.” Vidit will next meet Sam Shankland of the USA, who earlier eliminated Vasyl Ivanchuk.

World junior champion Pranav V bounced back from a loss in the second classical game to edge out Norwegian GM Aryan Tari in rapid play. Winning the first rapid game in 44 moves and holding a draw in the second, Pranav sealed his place in round three. “I just focused on my game today and didn’t think about the previous results. My preparation worked out well,” he said. Pranav will next face Titas Stremavicius of Lithuania, who recently stunned Wesley So.

Meanwhile, Pranesh M overcame Dimitrij Kollars of Germany in his second rapid match. Controlling the board with black by move 24, he converted his advantage efficiently to win in 48 moves. Pranesh’s next test will be against Vincent Keymer of Germany.

Elsewhere, R Praggnanandhaa and SL Narayanan also secured third-round berths after surviving nerve-wracking tie-breakers. Praggnanandhaa defeated Temur Kuybokarov after a seesaw battle that extended to blitz games, while Narayanan prevailed over Nikita Vitiugov by winning both blitz encounters following a string of draws.

There were notable upsets too — tenth seed Hans Niemann of the USA was knocked out by Italy’s Lorenzo Lodici in a grueling 77-move rapid game after two classical draws.

With eight Indians — including Vidit, Gukesh, Arjun Erigasi, Harikrishna, Karthik Venkatraman, Diptayan Ghosh, Pranav, and Pranesh — advancing to round three, India’s challenge at the World Cup looks stronger than ever.