Pranav V Faces Warning Amid Scoresheet Dispute in Chess World Cup

Post by : Mina Rahman

The Chess World Cup 2025 sparked a brief controversy on Friday during the third-round face-off between Lithuanian Grandmaster Titas Stremavicius and Indian Grandmaster Pranav V. Stremavicius filed a formal complaint, citing that Pranav had made several moves without documenting them on his scoresheet. This breach of the tournament's regulations, which require players to record every move, led to an official warning for Pranav.

This situation prompted the involvement of a third arbiter to mediate. After the review, the game was allowed to continue, and Pranav ultimately clinched a victory, putting him ahead in the third-round match.

Reflecting on the incident, Pranav remarked, “I was unaware that I couldn't make, say, three moves without documenting them.” He later explained that it was an unintentional mistake on his part.

Other Indian players also showcased impressive performances on Friday. Arjun Erigaisi and Pentala Harikrishna both secured wins, playing with the white pieces. Erigaisi triumphed over Uzbekistan’s Shamsiddin Vokhidov in merely 30 moves, while Harikrishna secured a quick victory against Belgium’s Daniel Dardha in just 25 moves.

Harikrishna shared his thoughts on his match, stating, “I had prepared something new, and while I received some help, I struggled to remember all the moves in that variation. However, some clever tricks unfolded, and there were moments my opponent overlooked. Essentially, he didn’t accurately grasp the threats within the game.”

Meanwhile, reigning World Champion D Gukesh drew his initial game in Round 3 while playing with the black pieces.

The FIDE World Cup 2025 is a fiercely competitive knockout tournament, featuring 206 participants from 82 nations. Some high-profile players, including Ian Nepomniachtchi, Wesley So, and Hans Niemann, have already faced elimination. India is making a strong statement in this tournament, with 10 players advancing to the third round, highlighting the country's growing stature in the world of chess.