Checkmate in Goa: Karthik Venkataraman Storms Into Round Four of FIDE World Cup

Karthik Venkataraman advances after tiebreak thriller

On November 9, GM Karthik Venkataraman clinched a dramatic victory over Romania’s Bogdan-Daniel Deac in the third-round tiebreaker at the FIDE World Cup 2025. After drawing the first rapid game with white, Karthik capitalised on his bishop advantage in the second game with black, trapping Deac’s king and sealing the win in 43 moves.

This victory places Karthik among five Indian players who have reached the fourth round, alongside Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, Pentala Harikrishna, and Pranav V. The tournament, held in Panaji, Goa, now enters its crucial phase after a rest day on November 10.

Major takeaways:

• Karthik used strategic endgame play to defeat Deac in the second rapid tiebreak  
• He previously overcame fellow Indian GM Aravindh Chithambaram in round two  
• Five Indian players now remain in contention as the fourth round begins  
• Karthik will face Vietnam’s Le Quang Liem in the next round

Karthik’s performance reflects India’s rising dominance in global chess, with young grandmasters making deep runs in elite tournaments.

Sources: Indian Express, WION News, Telangana Today, Tribune India, Times of India