PANAJI (GOA): Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi emerged as the only Indian contender left in the FIDE World Cup quarterfinals after P. Harikrishna suffered a heartbreaking exit at the hands of Mexico’s Jose Martinez Alcantara in the fifth-round tie-breaks on Sunday.
Harikrishna, who had showcased exceptional form throughout the tournament, struggled to find the right continuation against a confident Martinez. The Mexican-Peruvian player, already known for shocking top seed Nodirbek Yakubboev of Uzbekistan earlier in the event, continued his giant-killing run.
With this latest win—his third over a higher-rated opponent in the knockout stages—Martinez has positioned himself for a dream opportunity. A place in the semifinals is now within his reach, and finishing in the top three would secure him a coveted berth in next year’s Candidates Tournament.
