By Arjun Erigaisi is now the lone Indian in the FIDE World Cup quarterfinals after P Harikrishna lost his fifth-round tie-break to Mexico’s Jose Martinez Alcantara in Panaji on Sunday. Harikrishna, strong throughout the event, ran out of time and ideas in the rapid games as Martinez claimed yet another higher-rated scalp.
Needing a must-win with Black in the final tie-break, Harikrishna could only draw and was eliminated. Martinez now eyes a semifinal spot and a potential path to next year’s Candidates.
Elsewhere, Sam Shankland ended Daniil Dubov’s run with a dominant win.
In Monday’s quarterfinals, Erigaisi faces China’s Wei Yi, Shankland meets Andrey Esipenko, and Martinez takes on Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov.
