Panaji: Grandmaster (GM) Arjun Erigaisi’s efforts to interrupt by way of GM Levon Aronian’s defence didn’t fructify, whereas GM P Harikrishna performed out a fast draw within the opening sport of the fifth spherical of the FIDE World Cup 2025 right here on Friday. Taking part in white, Arjun couldn’t convert his slight benefit within the double rook endgame as the 2 gamers cut up factors after 41 strikes.

Earlier, Harikrishna performed a strong sport with black to make sure that giant-killer GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara had no alternatives to win with white. A complete of 24 Indian gamers began the competitors that noticed 206 gamers from 82 nations vying for the Viswanathan Anand Trophy. After 4 rounds, solely two Indians are nonetheless within the fray to win the title and likewise seize a spot on supply within the Candidates event.

On Friday, Arjun was eager on grabbing the benefit in opposition to two-time champion Aronian with white items. It appeared just like the Armenian-born Aronian was in hassle when he took nearly half-hour to play his twenty first transfer.

To his credit score, he discovered a technique to get out of hassle after which performed strong chess to make sure that he goes into the second sport with a theoretical benefit as he performs white.

There was no such hassle for Harikrishna, as he was properly ready for Alcantara’s plan, and each the gamers raced to a rook-pawn endgame shortly after which opted for a attract 41 strikes. On the time of writing, six of the eight matches had resulted in a draw.

Indian outcomes (Spherical 5, Sport 1):

GM Arjun Erigaisi drew with GM Levon Aronian 0.5:0.5

GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara drew with GM P Harikrishna 0.5:0.5