Narayanan, Diptayan, and Aronyak Shine as India Makes Strong Start at FIDE World Cup 2025

Baku, November 4, 2025 Indian chess players continued to impress at the FIDE World Cup 2025, with Grandmasters Narayanan SL, Diptayan Ghosh, and Aronyak Ghosh advancing to the second round after strong performances in their tiebreak matches on Monday. Their victories added to India’s growing presence in the prestigious tournament, which has drawn 206 players from 82 countries competing for the Viswanathan Anand Cup. Narayanan SL, playing with the black pieces in his first rapid game, took control early against Peru’s International Master Steven Rojas. He converted his advantage in 52 moves and then wrapped up the match quickly, winning the second game with white in just 22 moves. The confident display saw him through to the second round, where he will face Grandmaster Nikita Vitiugov of England. Diptayan Ghosh also showed great composure in his match against China’s Grandmaster Peng Xiongjian. In the first game, Diptayan used his two advancing pawns to create pressure and win in 70 moves. His patience and accuracy paid off again in the second game, which he won in 46 moves after Peng’s risky counterattack failed. Diptayan now faces a major challenge in the next round against former World Championship finalist Grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia. After his victory, Narayanan credited his belief in his rapid chess ability for the result. With a smile, he revealed that he sometimes checks with ChatGPT about his chances in tiebreak formats, and it once again favored him. “I thought I was the favourite in the tiebreak. In the shorter format, I am pretty strong. My opponent played very well in the classical games, but I was confident once I won with black,” he said. Another standout performance came from Aronyak Ghosh, who delivered a clinical win in the second stage of the tiebreaks against Polish Grandmaster Mateusz Bartel. Aronyak had kept his chances alive on Sunday by defeating Bartel in the second classical game and carried that momentum forward. In the decisive rounds, he played precisely, forcing a resignation in just 19 moves in one of the games by pinning his opponent’s queen and king. In the second stage of rapid play, he again displayed fine form, winning the first game in 54 moves and capitalizing on Bartel’s mistakes in the second to clinch victory in only 20 moves. Aronyak now moves on to face the experienced Grandmaster Levon Aronian of the United States. Meanwhile, other Indian players also put up determined fights. Lalith Babu MR, Diptayan, and Aronyak all won their first games of the tiebreaks, while Narayanan’s victory with black set the tone for the day. Rithvik Raja lost his opening game but bounced back with a fine win over Kazybek Nogerbek of Kazakhstan to stay in contention. With Narayanan, Diptayan, and Aronyak joining six other Indians who advanced earlier, India now has a strong contingent in round two. The tournament will also feature an all-Indian clash between Karthik Venkatraman and Aravindh Chithambaram, ensuring at least one Indian spot in the third round of the FIDE World Cup Indian Grandmasters Blaze Ahead at FIDE World Cup 2025 India’s chess stars are on fire at the FIDE World Cup 2025 as Grandmasters Narayanan SL, Diptayan Ghosh, and Aronyak Ghosh storm into the second round with brilliant performances in their rapid tiebreaks. Narayanan dominated his match against Peru’s Steven Rojas, sealing victory in just 22 moves in the second game after a strong opening win. Diptayan outplayed China’s Peng Xiongjian with calm precision, setting up an exciting next-round clash with Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi. Aronyak Ghosh also rose to the occasion, defeating Poland’s Mateusz Bartel in style, wrapping up the final rapid game in only 20 moves. With this win, he joins the growing Indian contingent making waves in Baku. Narayanan, in a light-hearted moment, even mentioned that ChatGPT had predicted him as the tiebreak favorite—a prediction that proved spot on. With several Indian players already through to the next stage, including Karthik Venkatraman and Aravindh Chithambaram who face each other next, India’s strong run continues at one of the most prestigious chess tournaments in the world.