The nerve of the tiebreaks
Blitz and rapid tiebreakers are nerve-racking spectacles. In rapid games, players have enough time to think, plan, and avoid blunders, yet must still manage their time carefully. It’s a delicate balance between classical depth and blitz speed.
Blitz, on the other hand, is fast, intuitive, and electric — a format where players rely on instinct, pattern recognition, and split-second calculation. Common online and in casual play, blitz demands confidence, courage, and above all, emotional control under pressure.
Few embody these qualities better than 12-year-old Argentinian IM Faustino Oro. The prodigious talent, already known for online victories against Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura, showed maturity beyond his years by defeating seasoned GM Ante Brkic in Goa today.
The round was ceremonially opened by Sanjiv M. Gadkar IAS, Secretary Protocol, Government of Goa, on Board One, where GM Robert Hovhannisyan faced FM Kavin Mohan. For tomorrow’s all-important second round, the Chief Minister of Goa is expected to make the honorary first move for World Champion Gukesh D.
Rapid rounds: Surprises and systems
Out of twenty matches, fourteen were decided within the first two rapid games — overturning many pre-round predictions. Most rating favourites advanced, though not all without a fight: six matches ended 2-0, and eight concluded 1.5-0.5.
A noticeable difference from the classical portion was the choice of openings. Many players opted for flexible “systems” such as the Colle, London, and Anti-Sicilian setups — less theoretical but highly dynamic, well-suited to faster time controls and reduced defensive resources.
With these results, Round 2 is set. All fifty seeds have arrived, ready to enter the action tomorrow afternoon — a round that promises fireworks and fascinating matchups.
Let’s look at this afternoon’s action in more depth.
The early qualifiers
The first player to qualify under the 15+10 rapid section was GM Sunilduth Lyna Narayanan (2617). The strong Kerala Grandmaster, currently ranked India’s number seventeen, defeated IM Steven Rojas Salas (2413) of Peru by a clean 2-0.
A 52-move grind with Black in the first game left Rojas Salas struggling, and Narayanan finished him off in style with a 22-move miniature in the second, capitalizing on a major blunder.
According to Theophilus Wait, Lichess Operations Director present in Goa, Narayanan warmed up for the day with over fifty bullet games online:
“I play a lot of bullet — that’s one of my ways to get in shape. I play fast and check a bunch of lines with the computer later.” It seems the routine paid off handsomely.
Other clear 2-0 victories included:
- GM Jorge Cori (2601, Peru) defeating IM Aldiyar Ansat (2470, Kazakhstan).
- GM Temur Kuybokarov (2535, Australia) beating GM Jan Subelj (2532, Slovenia) in a match highlighted by a brilliant checkmating finish.
Kuybokarov sealed the game with 49…Nh3+ 50.Kh2 Nf2+ 51.Kg1 Rh1+! 52.Kxf2 Qxe3 mate 0-1.
- GM Tin Jingyao (2583, Singapore) defeating IM Jegor Lashkin (2492, Moldova).
- GM Ghosh Diptayan (India, 2564) overcoming GM Peng Xiongjian (2520, China) by the same score.
- IM Bojan Maksimovic (2532, Bosnia) eliminating GM Emre Can (2541, Turkey) — both classical games had been drawn.
Narrow escapes and determined youngsters
Eight matches ended 1.5-0.5, mostly favouring higher-rated players. Among the standouts was FM Kavin Mohan (Malaysia, born 2011), who drew both classical games against GM Robert Hovhannisyan (2629) before narrowly losing in the rapid portion — a superb showing for the 14-year-old.
Elsewhere, GM Alisher Suleymenov (2491, Kazakhstan) defeated GM Arturs Neiksans (2585, Latvia), while GM Denis Makhnev (2525, Kazakhstan) ousted GM Diego Flores (2563, Argentina) winning by the same margin.
After his elimination, Neiksans congratulated his opponent and humorously announced his return to the commentary desk:
The 10+10 Rapids: One match decided, five headed to blitz
Six matches advanced to the second two-game rapid set (10+10). The play was fiercely balanced, with only IM Aronyak Ghosh (2520, India) managing to win both games and advance.
His opponent, GM Mateusz Bartel (2575, Poland), fought hard and even gained attacking chances in the final game before a sudden blunder ended his run:
Bartel’s 20.Qf3?? allowed 20…Nh4, a double attack that forced immediate resignation.
Blitz deciders: Youth and nerves of steel
With six games already behind them, players entered the blitz tiebreaks (5+3) — a pure test of energy, nerves, and composure. All five matches were decided at this stage, featuring both upsets and heroic efforts.
The headline story came from IM Faustino Oro (Argentina, 12 years old), who won both blitz games to qualify for Round 2. Overjoyed, “Fausti” was whisked off for a fair-play check before returning for a quick post-match chat:
“I’m so happy to have qualified. It’s been a very tough match,” he said. “I missed a key tactic in the final game, but luckily for me the position was still tricky.”
Elsewhere, GM Daniil Yuffa (2618, Spain) survived a marathon match against IM Shiyam Thavandiran (Canada, 2400), eventually clinching both blitz games but acknowledging his opponent’s resilience.
GM Max Warmerdam (2577, Netherlands) also needed blitz to overcome GM Lalit Babu M R (2506, India), in a match where momentum swung dramatically.
Two other tightly contested duels saw GM Kazybek Nogerbek (2538, Kazakhstan) defeat GM Raja Rithvik (2541, India), and GM Ahmed Adly (2589, Egypt) edge past GM Karen Grigoryan (2481, Armenia) — the latter still a formidable competitor and former 2650-rated player.
Looking ahead
The first day of tiebreaks offered everything — drama, blunders, brilliance, and youthful audacity. With all 50 seeds now entering the fray, Round 2 promises high-voltage encounters as established stars meet fearless challengers.
Goa’s World Cup is heating up, and if today’s rapid and blitz battles are any indication, the days ahead will be nothing short of spectacular.
Game 1 of Round 2 begins on November 4 at 3 PM local time. The action can be followed live on the FIDE YouTube Channel, featuring expert commentary by GMs Evgenij Miroshnichenko and Jan Gustafsson.
To watch the games in person, tickets can be purchased [HERE]
Official website: worldcup2025.fide.com/
Written by IM Michael Rahal
Photos: Michal Walusza and Eteri Kublashvili
