In one of the biggest upsets of the FIDE World Cup 2025 in Goa, world champion D. Gukesh was knocked out in the third round on Saturday, 8 November. The 19-year-old, ranked No. 9 in the world, lost to World No. 85 Frederik Svane of Germany.
Having drawn the first game with the black pieces, the Indian pushed for a win in the second, but Svane not only survived severe time pressure, he then forced Gukesh to resign in a knight-and-pawn ending. Despite being level in material, the pawn structure left Gukesh with no realistic way to hold the position, and he was compelled to concede.
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The result sent shockwaves through Panjim, as the poster boy of Indian chess exited as early as the t
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