Moscow: Indian Grand Master P. Harikrishna went down fighting to Russian GM Peter Svidler in third round to suffer his first loss in the Moscow FIDE Grand Prix chess tournament here.
The World No.16 Indian, playing in white pieces, started off aggressively and maintained pressure on his higher rated opponent during the initial stage of the game late on Sunday night.
However, one miscalculated move mid-way into the tie saw Svidler seize the momentum and turned the tides on Harikrisha.
With two draws and one loss, Harikrishna now has one point from three rounds in the 9-round Swiss tournament which offers prize money of 130,000 euros ($1,42,761.45) as well as chance to qualify for the prestigious candidates tournament.
He will now take on Ernesto Inarkiev of Russia in the fourth round.