Tag: Quarterfinals

Sports

World Cup 2025: Arjun–Wei Quarterfinal Goes to Tiebreak; Nodirbek Reaches Semis

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Sports Desk

The FIDE World Cup 2025 continued to produce tense battles as GM Arjun Erigaisi and GM Wei Yi drew their second classical game, sending their quarterfinal match into a rapid tiebreak. After a quick draw with Black on Monday, Arjun pressed harder with White and managed to gain a promising advantage in the middle game.

Engines even suggested a decisive bishop sacrifice that could have tilted the match in his favor, but Arjun opted for the quieter Qd2, allowing Wei Yi to regroup and defend accurately. With the classical segment ending 1–1, Arjun will begin the tiebreak with the Black pieces and is still considered one of the favourites in the faster format.

Two more quarterfinals are also headed to tiebreaks. GM Andrey Esipenko and GM Sam Shankland split the point after 37 moves, while GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara and GM Javokhir Sindarov wrapped up their game in just 18 minutes, agreeing to a draw after 25 moves to level the match.

The only decisive qualification of the day came from Uzbekistan’s GM Nodirbek Yakubboev, who secured his semifinal spot with a composed 57-move draw against GM Alexander Donchenko, having already won the first game with White. With one semifinalist confirmed and three spots still up for grabs, the tiebreaks promise high-stakes action as the tournament intensifies.

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Rishabh Secures Spot in Quarterfinals of the Baale BPS Open 2025 in the Open Men’s Category

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Panaji, February 18 – The cherry on top of an already special day for Rishabh Beria, the Salvador-based tennis player advanced to the quarterfinals of the open men’s category in the ongoing second edition of the Baale BPS Open tennis tournament on his 41st birthday, defeating his opponent Prithvi Naik 6-4. Rishabh was joined in the quarterfinal stage by Prince Agnelo de Silva, who easily outdid Pankaj Naik (6-1) in the same open category.  

The Baale BPS Open 2025, which is being held at the B.P.S. Club courts in Margao, also witnessed a slew of matches in the Masters category, which saw Neville Menezes edge out Kishor Metry (6-4), Manoj knocking out the challenge from Marcus DCosta (6-0) and Caetano Fernandes sweat it out in his duel against Noel Noronha (7-5) in the 45+ men’s singles quarterfinals to make it to the semifinal round. In another match in the same category, Sameer Kakodkar blanked Mervin Soares (6-0). 

In the 55+ men’s singles quarterfinal event, Noel Noronha defeated Sameer Kakodkar (6-3), while Caetano Fernandes ousted Savio Vales (6-1). The masters 45+ men’s doubles category saw Kedar Tari/Allan Fernandes defeat Sagar Utagi/Ashokkumar Borkar (6-1) to reach the semifinal, while Sunil Signapurkar paired up with Shubert Calaco to vanquish Anup Sardesai/Dean (6-2). In another match in the 55+ men’s doubles category, Raju/Aman Prabhu defeated Savio Vales/Hemant Bhide 6-2 to progress to the semifinal. 

The tournament, which has received a lot of participation from youngsters, saw Shaurya Verlekar outwit Gaurang Nerurkar 7-6 (2) in a tough encounter, while Alec Cris Barreto, Kyan K Mavany and Vidaal De Menezes made light work of their opponents Arsh Sardesai, Kaivalya Devaraya and Tanish Bandodkar, respectively, defeating them 6-1 in the boys under-18 category. Playing in the same category, Ethan De Ataide and Shreyas Patil trounced Vihaan Krishnan and Devansh Naik (6-0), respectively. 

In keenly contested matches in the boys under-14 category, Aarin Ballani overcame a stiff challenge from Tanish Bandodkar (7-5), while Aarav Kumar defeated Satya Stewart (6-4). Arhan Gaunkar and Shaurya Verlekar made light work of their opponents Aarav Kumar and Christian Fernandes, respectively, defeating them 6-1, while Timofei Polosin defeated Sairaj Narvenkar (6-0). 

In the three matches played in the men’s doubles event, Dustan Dias/Deepak defeated Sachin Arun Ambre/Pankaj Naik (7-5), Wes Ryan/Sanket Nayak knocked out Gary Steele/Satya (6-0) and Nihaal Borkar/Kane Pereira beat Rishabh Beria/Tarang Doshi (6-2).