D Gukesh, the reigning world champion, won his first game of the ongoing FIDE World Cup to enter the third round of the event after defeating Kazybek Nogerbek Wednesday. But it was his world championship second, Pentala Harikrishna, who pulled a rabbit out of the hat with a stunning queen sacrifice and an opening ploy that he had first cooked up in 2016, but never used. Until Wednesday, that is. That too with devastating effect to defeat Arseniy Nesterov and enter the third round.

Among the top Indians, Praggnanandhaa (facing Temur Kuybokarov), Vidit Gujrathi (facing 12-year-old Faustino Oro) and Nihal Sarin (facing Stamatis Kourkoulos-Arditis) will have to fight it out in the tiebreaks tomorrow after their games ended in draws. Arjun Erigaisi won both his games to enter round 3. A semi-u

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