FIDE World Cup 2025: Vidit Gujrathi Ends 12 Year Old Faustino Oro’s Dream Run, Pranav, Pranesh March Into Round 3
Indian Grandmasters Shine As Vidit Outplays 12-Year-Old Prodigy, Pranav And Pranesh Secure Key Wins
India, Nov 7 : India’s Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi ended the sensational run of 12-year-old Argentine prodigy Faustino Oro in the FIDE World Cup 2025, defeating him in the second rapid game on Thursday to move into the third round.
After being tested in the classical rounds, Vidit relied on experience to clinch a 52-move victory with black pieces, breaking through Oro’s resilient defence. Speaking after the match, Vidit said, “It feels good to qualify for the next round. It was not an easy match, so it feels even better.”
Praising the young talent, Vidit added, “The way young players play chess today is very different because they’ve grown up with computers. Faustino is special playing like a seasoned player at just 12.”
Vidit will next face Sam Shankland of the USA, who ousted GM Vasyl Ivanchuk in the second round.
Meanwhile, Pranav V and Pranesh M also progressed with confident performances. World Junior Champion Pranav bounced back from a classical loss to defeat Norway’s Aryan Tari in the first rapid game and held him to a draw in the second to seal the tie. He will meet Titas Stremavicius of Lithuania next, who stunned Wesley So earlier.
Pranesh M, on the other hand, beat Germany’s Dimitrij Kollars in 48 moves after gaining an edge midway through the second rapid game. He now faces Vincent Keymer of Germany in Round 3.
In another major upset, 10th seed Hans Niemann of the USA crashed out after losing to Italy’s Lorenzo Lodici in the first rapid game following two drawn classical matches.
With Vidit, Pranav, and Pranesh joining Gukesh D, Arjun Erigaisi, P Harikrishna, Karthik Venkatraman, and Diptayan Ghosh, India continues to make a strong mark in the FIDE World Cup 2025.
