Dubov’s ‘10-minute prep’ swagger vs Praggnanandhaa backfires as Shankland boots him out of FIDE World Cup: ‘This was actually a surprise’

Russian Grandmaster Daniil Dubov, who recently made headlines for boasting that he took just 10 minutes to prepare for Classical games against R Praggnanandhaa of India, was knocked out of the FIDE World Cup 2025 on Sunday after losing in his preferred Rapid tie-breaks. Dubov, a former 2018 World Rapid Champion, was knocked out by American Grandmaster Sam Shankland, who won the tie-breaks 2-0.

“This was actually a surprise for me. I’m not generally a great rapid player,” Shankland said after his victory. “In Classical, I know my rating’s dropped a lot, but perhaps I’m foolish and naive enough to believe I’m still 2700+ strength if I’m on form and feeling OK, because I’ve had some health issues.

🇺🇸 Sam Shankland knocks out Daniil Dubov and makes it to the quarterfinals!#FIDEWorldCup #Goa pic.twitter.com/ho8JqWmo7s

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) November 16, 2025

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“Maybe that’s just too naive and arrogant, but that’s sort of how I feel. Rapid, I was never really that competitive, and I got last at the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz.”

Dubov suffers shock loss in Rapid tie-breaks

It was a shocking loss for Dubov, a former second of world No 1 Magnus Carlsen, who made waves at the FIDE Chess World Cup in Goa, India, by reaching the fifth round. Dubov is not known for his prowess in Classical chess, but defeated 2023 World Cup runner-up Praggnanandhaa in Round 4 before claiming that he had prepared for just 10 minutes on his phone for the two Classical games against the Indian Grandmaster, which ended in draws, leading to a tie-break where the Russian emerged victorious.

“I have to say generally I’m not the biggest fan of classical chess. I like chess a lot and it’s not that I hate thinking. It’s just that with this amount of prep, I don’t even know… like preparing for two classical games against Pragg took me 10 minutes with the phone all together. I didn’t even use my laptop. Then I did it for the first time during the match in between the (rapid) games today. It’s like everybody knows everything. I don’t mind playing,” Dubov said after beating the Indian chess prodigy.

Dubov’s strategy in the Chess World Cup has been pretty clear: play for draws in the Classical games, force a tie-break, and then use his Rapid prowess to progress, but the strategy fell flat on its face against Shankland, who showed that humility and persistence always outlasts hubris and misconceptions.

Meanwhile, India’s Arjun Erigaisi progressed to the quarter-finals after beating the veteran Levon Aronian, but Pentala Harikrishna lost to Jose Martinez.

Also read |  With his stellar run at FIDE World Cup, Arjun Erigaisi finally gets the big break that he had been hunting for

Erigaisi is the only Indian left in the fray, but also the top-ranked player. He has a golden opportunity to earn a FIDE Candidates spot at home.