In 2002, Viswanathan Anand won his second Chess World Cup title in Hyderabad. The tournament was equally significant for another Indian, Pentala Harikrishna, who at the age of 16, had already become a Grandmaster and was making his World Cup debut on home turf.

It has been 23 years since, but Harikrishna is still going strong and remains one of the two Indians – the other being Arjun Erigaisi – to remain in contention in the 2025 edition after defeating Sweden’s Nils Grandelius in the fourth round.

He may not be at the peak of his powers but is still a threat. Harikrishna is one of only three players, alongside legendary Ukrainian Vassily Ivanchuk and India’s Surya Shekhar Ganguly, to have competed in both the 2002 World Cup and the current edition in Goa. The former India No.1, who is s

See Full Page