By Atreyo Mukhopadhyay in Goa
Things can change a in a matter of a day in sports. At the FIDE World Cup on Tuesday, Arjun Erigaisi was engaged in a long affair with Wei Yi in the second game of the quarterfinals. A day earlier, he had opted for a super-fast approach. Like that one, this game also ended in a draw after three hours and 15 minutes, which means the Indian and the Chinese now head into the tie-breakers scheduled for Wednesday. Two more contests will be decided via the shorter formats. Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Yakubboev was the only player to have qualified for the semi-finals from the first two games.
Playing with white pieces, Erigaisi seemed to have eked out an advantage. At one stage, the experts doing live commentary were saying that he could win. Soon after, they noted with a collective sigh of despair that he didn’t find the move which could have turned the tide in his favour. The highest-rated player in this World Cup still tried to force the issue, but Wei had the answers to all his moves. He blunted Erigaisi’s plans and held firm, despite being way behind him on the clock.
It was a day when time difference didn’t make a difference. With 14 moves to play, Erigaisi had 31 minutes on the clock and Wei six. When 10 moves were to be made, it became 30 and three. It could have been a decisive margin between players with a gap in ability. But at this level, these players know how to navigate through tough situations. Wei made his moves quickly when the clock demanded and dashed the hopes of those rooting for the Indian in the Fan Zone. It was an exciting game nonetheless, where the Indian was never in trouble.
The tie-breakers will begin a set of rapid games, followed by another, before it goes into the blitz format. Who is the favourite in this? The commentators reckoned it should be Erigaisi. That didn’t sound very convincing. Take a look at the world rankings of the two players to form an opinion. In the classical format followed in the first two games, Erigaisi is seventh and Wei seventh. In rapid, the Chinese is fourth and the Indian 16th. When it comes to blitz, the home favourite is 14th and his opponent 30th. Since the tie-breakers begin with rapid, Wei holds an edge. If it’s decided in those games, the blitz games will not be required.
This is Erigaisi’s last chance to qualify for next year’s Candidates Championship. The top three from this World Cup will make it to the eight-player elite event, the winner of which will take on D Gukesh in the World Championship bout. The player from Andhra Pradesh couldn’t reach the Candidates last year. It will be a blow for his aspirations if he doesn’t make it this time. From India in the men’s section, R Praggnanandhaa has almost assured himself of a Candidates berth. These two are known to be good buddies. Can Erigaisi join his friend? He has a Chinese wall to surmount to secure that.
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