Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi’s FIDE World Cup marketing campaign got here to a halt on Wednesday after a 1.5-2.5 loss to China’s Wei Yi within the first set of speedy tiebreaks in Panaji. Each classical video games had led to attracts, pushing the quarterfinal into sooner time controls the place Wei Yi finally proved steadier. Arjun started the tiebreaks with Black and opted for the French Defence, however the selection backfired early. He slipped right into a tough place, surrendering a rook for a minor piece. Regardless of the pc analysis closely favouring Wei Yi, the Indian fought laborious and managed to salvage a draw within the endgame.

The second speedy sport, nonetheless, slipped out of Arjun’s grip. With the white items, he by no means fairly gained management of the middlegame. Wei Yi established a powerful setup, highlighted by a light-squared bishop on the sixth rank that finally induced quite a lot of issues. Arjun dropped a pawn within the closing section, and Wei Yi transformed with correct pawn play earlier than delivering checkmate. Elsewhere within the quarterfinals, Andrey Esipenko superior after defeating American Sam Shankland 4-2, capitalising when Shankland misplaced each video games within the second set of tiebreaks. Javokhir Sindarov additionally progressed, turning into the second Uzbek semifinalist after edging Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara 3.5-2.5 in a battle of nerves. Within the closing pairing, Nodirbek Yakubboev secured a 1.5-0.5 win over Germany’s Alexander Donchenko to achieve the final 4.

The semifinals will now see Esipenko face Wei Yi, whereas Yakubboev takes on Sindarov, establishing matchups that includes contrasting types and rising contenders. Arjun’s exit additionally means India’s hopes of a berth on the Candidates Event relaxation solely on R Praggnanandhaa, who’s on observe to qualify primarily based on his performances by means of the season.

Quarterfinal outcomes

Nodirbek Yakubboev defeated Alexander Donchenko 1.5-0.5; Wei Yi defeated Arjun Erigaisi 2.5-1.5; Andrey Esipenko defeated Sam Shankland 4-2; Javokhir Sindarov defeated Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara 3.5-2.5.