Pranav V Faces Warning Over Scoresheet Issue but Triumphs at Chess World Cup

In the latest round of the Chess World Cup 2025, a minor controversy unfolded on Friday during the match between Indian Grandmaster Pranav V and Lithuanian GM Titas Stremavicius. The Lithuanian player lodged a formal complaint, stating that Pranav failed to record several of his moves, which goes against the tournament’s strict rules requiring every move to be documented.

As the situation escalated, a third arbiter intervened to mediate the dispute. Following a review, arbiters delivered a formal warning to Pranav, allowing the match to resume without further incident. Subsequently, Pranav secured a victory, continuing to lead in the encounter from which he now emerges victorious.

Addressing the controversy, Pranav remarked, “I wasn’t aware of the rule; I didn't realize I couldn’t make more than three moves without noting them down.” He later confirmed that it was an unintentional oversight.

Indian players continued their strong performances on Friday, with both Arjun Erigaisi and Pentala Harikrishna managing wins while playing with the white pieces. Erigaisi saw off Uzbekistan’s Shamsiddin Vokhidov in a swift 30 moves, while Harikrishna overcame Belgium’s Daniel Dardha in an even quicker 25 moves.

Reflecting on his match, Harikrishna stated, “I had a new strategy prepared. I did get some assistance, but I couldn't remember all the moves in that sequence. Still, some clever tactics came into play, and my opponent missed key moves, not realizing the threats in the match.”

Meanwhile, the reigning World Champion D Gukesh managed a draw in his first game of Round 3, playing with the black pieces.

The FIDE World Cup 2025 is an intense knockout event featuring 206 players across 82 nations. Notable chess stars such as Ian Nepomniachtchi, Wesley So, and Hans Niemann have already been eliminated. India's impressive contingent remains strong, with 10 players making it to the third round, highlighting the nation’s growing stature in the global chess arena.