World Cup Round 2 Tie-Breaks: Moments you don’t want to miss
by Rasika Ratnaparkhi - 07/11/2025
Tie-breaks at the World Cup carry a different kind of heartbeat. Things happen so quickly that you have little time to absorb them. Reporters have to rush between games and catch expressions. Emotions can appear and disappear in seconds. It's a challenge to hold onto every beautiful moment. And yet, the photographers at the World Cup have managed to capture some amazing scenes. This article brings you the human side of the FIDE World Cup 2025. Photo: Michal Walusza
The real fan zone is in your head!
When you step into a world-class tournament for the first time, there is a special kind of excitement! Yesterday was my first day at the FIDE World Cup 2025 venue. It was also my first-ever tournament coverage, so you can imagine the butterflies. And the event welcomed me even before I reached the venue.
While I was walking to the venue, I saw this poster. You don’t need to be inside the venue to feel the magnitude of the event! | Photo: Rasika Ratnaparkhi
Another poster a few meters ahead. The World Cup energy was everywhere! | Photo: Rasika Ratnaparkhi
Imagine walking to the venue and bumping into grandmasters… Yes! That actually happened to me. It felt surreal! Unfortunately, I don’t have a photo of my own fan moment, but what I do have is even better. Let’s take a look at how the fans greeted the players the moment they arrived.
That priceless ‘Is this really happening?’ fan expression. | Photo: Michal Walusza
Rapport always has a good rapport with fans! | Photo: Michal Walusza
Sagar Shah signing autographs before heading to the commentary. | Photo: Michal Walusza
The ones who were free from tiebreaks looked different. They were relaxed. They were like spectators at their own event! While walking around, I also spoke to a chess fan who told me something about what happened after the previous game. Someone accidentally hit a chessboard at Gukesh while asking for an autograph. But Gukesh did not react. He stayed calm as usual. He simply continued what he was doing, signed every board, and walked away as if nothing had happened. Even yesterday, many fans surrounded him for photos. Same poise in such a situation! I have always heard people talk about how composed he is, but yesterday I saw it myself.
Find Gukesh! Photo: Michal Walusza
I saw something cool at the entry of the venue...
The wit of the day! | Photo: Rasika Ratnaparkhi
Anyways...
Get ready to see some memorable pictures from yesterday, on and off the board. | Photo: Michal Walusza
The first move was made by Mahesh Candolkar, President of the Goa Chess Federation, in the Praggnanandhaa-Kuybokarov game. | Photo: Eteri Kublashvili
Did you know that even an Arbiter writes the moves? | Photo: Eteri Kublashvili
The legend Vassily Evanchuk joined the commentary! Even if his World Cup journey has ended, his presence still lights up the tournament. | Photo: Eteri Kublashvili
Big dreams started in the fan zone! | Photo: Michal Walusza
Guess the player who is being papped… | Photo: Eteri Kublashvili
Before the preparation and pressure… there’s this. Vidit's family patiently waiting for him after his game. | Photo: Eteri Kublashvili
How Vidit's family reacted when he qualified for the next round. | Video: ChessBase India
The chess version of “Me waiting for my friend to finish his paper.” | Photo: Michal Walusza
Hard-fought, but the result didn’t go Nihal’s way. | Photo: Michal Walusza
World Cup is hard, and this photo captures exactly why. | Photo: Michal Walusza
A heartbreak for Hans Neimann. He got eliminated by Lorenzo Lodici. | Photo: Eteri Kublashvili
12-year-old Faustino Oro: the wildcard who shocked everyone! There is no doubt that we will see him in the upcoming World Cups as well. | Photo: Michal Walusza
“He is a prodigy, and probably the biggest talent to come from that continent. I think there is a very bright future for him!” Vidit talked about his opponent, Faustino Oro. | Photo: Michal Walusza
Even top players need a timeout for laughter! | Photo: Michal Walusza
Pragg’s comeback was THE comeback of the day! | Photo: Eteri Kublashvili
Well, we were all exhausted by the end of the day... but so, so satisfied. | Photo: Eteri Kublashvili
The long day finally came to rest... but we will meet again for the next round... | Photo: Eteri Kublashvili
... with the same spark in our eyes. | Photo: Eteri Kublashvili
