Sochi: Indian Grandmasters Vidit Santosh Gujrathi, P Harikrishna and teen prodigy R Praggnanandhaa took a big step towards a spot in the fourth round of FIDE Chess World Cup on Sunday by posting wins in the first game of the two-game mini-match. Gujrathi, world number 22, posted an impressive win, beating compatriot B Adhiban. The Gujrathi-Adhiban game was expected to be an interesting one and it lived up to the expectations before the former snatched victory in 43 moves. Harikrishna, the highest-ranked Indian in the tournament at number 21, began his pursuit for a spot in the fourth round with a smooth win over lower-rated Constantin Lupulescu of Romania in 48 moves. The 15-year-old Praggnanandhaa outwitted the experienced 57-year-old Poland player Michal Krasenkow in 45 moves in a Petrov Millennium Attack game to go 1-0 ahead. Meanwhile, young GM Nihal Sarin lost the opening game to Dmitry Andreikin of Russia in 41 moves. In the women’s section, D Harika, the only Indian still in contention, went down in the first game to Russia’s Valentina Gunina in 43 moves in a Ruy Lopez opening.
The Gujrathi-Adhiban game was expected to be an interesting one and it lived up to the expectations before the former snatched victory in 43 moves.
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