FIDE World Cup: Aronian and Martínez Advance as the Field Tightens
The atmosphere in Goa was electric as the FIDE World Cup’s Round of 32 continued. With only 16 spots available, every move carried enormous pressure.
The day began with a ceremonial first move by Dr. Sagar Dilip Salgaocar, Managing Director of Geno Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd, marking the start of a dramatic round filled with strategy, tension, and precision. Each game had one theme — one mistake could end a player’s World Cup dream.
Inside the Rio Resort playing hall, silence ruled. You could hear only the click of clocks, the scratch of notation pens, and the soft thud of captured pieces.
Over six hours, the battles unfolded. Some grandmasters played safe to secure qualification, while others risked everything for victory. José Martínez Alcántara advanced confidently, Levon Aronian showed his creative flair, and Le Quang Liem delivered a clinical win over India’s Karthik Venkataraman.
Still, many matches remained undecided, setting up a thrilling tiebreak day in Goa.
Martínez Becomes First to Qualify
GM José Eduardo Martínez Alcántara (2644) was the first to secure a Round of 16 spot. After winning his first game against GM Alexey Sarana (2661), he only needed a draw to advance.
Playing the Alapin Sicilian, Martínez surprised his opponent with the sharp 13.Nxa7! sacrifice — a known trap in master play. Sarana had to settle for a draw, confirming the Mexican grandmaster’s qualification.
Draws and Drama Across the Boards
The trend of careful play continued.
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GM Gabriel Sargissian and GM Awonder Liang drew a balanced Catalan Opening, setting up a tiebreak.
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GMs Lorenzo Lodici and Samuel Sevian also shared points after a flawless Italian Opening.
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Daniil Dubov and Praggnanandhaa battled in a deep Ragozin line, both scoring 99% accuracy and agreeing to a draw on move 30. Their tiebreak clash is one to watch.
Draws kept coming as tension rose — Vachier-Lagrave, Rapport, Shankland, Sargsyan, and Svane all joined the list. Accuracy was sky-high, but risk-taking was rare.
Aronian, Donchenko, and Yakubboev Advance
GM Levon Aronian (2722) once again proved his class. Needing only a draw, he defended confidently against GM Radosław Wojtaszek (2654). Though Aronian missed a winning continuation, the draw was enough to move him into the last sixteen.
Uzbekistan’s GM Nodirbek Yakubboev (2689) delivered one of the day’s most beautiful wins, finishing with the stunning move 38.Ra8!, leaving his opponent helpless and qualifying in style.
GM Alexander Donchenko (2641) also booked his ticket after beating fellow German GM Matthias Bluebaum. Having already eliminated Anish Giri earlier, Donchenko continues his dream run in Goa.
Le Quang Liem Ends the Day with a Win
Vietnam’s GM Le Quang Liem (2729) wrapped up the day by defeating India’s national champion GM Karthik Venkataraman (2579). A tactical mistake — 25.Rd1?? instead of 25.Rb1 — allowed Le to break through decisively and seal his spot in the Round of 16.
What’s Next
With most matches drawn, the tiebreaks on November 13 at 3 PM local time promise to be explosive. Top players like Praggnanandhaa, Dubov, Wei Yi, Rapport, and Erigaisi will return to fight for survival.
Follow the action live on FIDE’s official YouTube channel with expert commentary from GMs Evgenij Miroshnichenko and Jan Gustafsson.
Photos: Michal Walusza, Eteri Kublashvili, FIDE_Chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
