FIDE World Cup 2025 Round 4, Game 1: Aronian & Martínez Lead As Praggnanandhaa Holds Against Dubov

Chessbrainz Nov 12,2025 - 09:38

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What happened in Round 4, Game 1?

The first classical games of Round 4 at the FIDE World Cup 2025 delivered a day of precision, balance, and subtle drama in Goa.
Out of sixteen encounters, only two produced decisive results victories for Levon Aronian and José Martínez Alcántara yet nearly every board featured deep preparation and narrow margins.

While the scoreline might suggest calm, the quality of play was among the highest seen so far. Even a draw required perfection, reflecting how tough it is to win at this stage of the event.

Levon Aronian’s confident start

Two-time World Cup winner Levon Aronian showcased his trademark creativity against Radosław Wojtaszek.
Employing the Vienna Game with 3.a3!?, a rare and surprising choice, Aronian managed to take his opponent out of theory early.

The Armenian-American grandmaster gradually built up pressure and converted his extra pawn in a precise endgame.

After the game, Aronian commented modestly:

“Sometimes you have to look for new ideas because standard lines lead to draws. This one worked well today.”

His victory gives him an early advantage in the two-game mini-match.

José Martínez Alcántara continues his impressive form

José Martínez Alcántara of Peru extended his strong run in Goa, defeating Alexey Sarana with the black pieces.
Known for his tactical awareness and practical decision-making, Martínez punished a single inaccuracy (33.Rc2?) to take full control and secure the win.

In his post-game remarks, Martínez said:

“I’ve been improving my preparation and focus with every round. My goal is to stay consistent, not overconfident.”

This marks his third straight classical victory and places him among the most consistent performers of the event so far.

How did the Indian players perform?

Praggnanandhaa R.

Facing Daniil Dubov, one of the tournament’s most creative players, Praggnanandhaa found himself in early difficulty.
Dubov gained the initiative and missed a decisive continuation (39…Nf5!) that could have ended the game in his favor.

Instead, the game steered into a balanced endgame where both players agreed to a draw.

For Pragg, it was another reminder of his resilience under pressure he remains unbeaten in classical games in Goa.

Arjun Erigaisi & Pentala Harikrishna

Arjun Erigaisi played an energetic opening against Peter Leko, introducing the Cobra Variation in the Sicilian.
After some sharp play, both players repeated moves for a draw, a pragmatic outcome that keeps Arjun well placed for Game 2 with the white pieces.

Pentala Harikrishna, meanwhile, showed excellent defensive accuracy in a balanced Ruy Lopez encounter against Nils Grandelius, maintaining his steady form.

Other key results and observations

Vincent Keymer held Andrey Esipenko in a precise Italian structure.
Yu Yangyi and Javokhir Sindarov produced a balanced Catalan game with perfect technique.
Awonder Liang missed winning chances against Gabriel Sargissian, whose endgame defense lasted 110 moves.
Wei Yi, Parham Maghsoodloo, and Lorenzo Lodici all drew with accurate and confident play.

Despite the number of draws, the level of precision across the round was extraordinary, a testament to how fine the margins are at this level of competition.

What’s next in the World Cup?

The second classical game of Round 4 will take place on November 12 at 3 PM IST, again at the Rio Resort in Goa.
Many matches remain level, meaning even one decisive result could determine advancement to the Round of 16.
With places in the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament on the line, the coming days promise even more intense and dramatic battles.

Why We at ChessBrainz Follow Every Move

At ChessBrainz, we see tournaments like the FIDE World Cup as more than competitions they’re living lessons in focus, patience, and creativity. When Aronian finds brilliance in a quiet position or Praggnanandhaa holds his nerve under pressure, there’s something every chess learner can take away.

Our mission is to help students grow with that same spirit to think with clarity, plan with discipline, and play with purpose.

If you enjoy learning from moments like these, explore how we teach the same values through our structured training programs and guided sessions at ChessBrainz.

Book a free demo class today and discover how we help young minds think deeper, play smarter, and enjoy the beautiful game of chess

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