World Cup Round 3 Tiebreaks: When the Clock Decides, the Best Rise
The 2025 FIDE World Cup in Goa continued with heart-stopping action as the Round 3 tiebreaks decided who would make it to the final 32. Every move carried tension, every clock tick brought pressure, and one mistake could end a player’s World Cup dream.
Speed and Skill Under Pressure
Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana once said, “The better player usually wins the tiebreaks.” His words rang true in Goa. As the time controls shortened, experience and calm nerves made all the difference. Five of the six players rated above 2700 showed their class and moved forward.
Knockout chess is as much about psychology as preparation. Some players cracked under time pressure, while others found their best moves when it mattered most.
Honouring an Indian Pioneer
The day began with a special moment — the ceremonial first move by GM Abhijit Kunte, India’s fourth Grandmaster and Tournament Director. Born in Pune, he helped shape Indian chess in the 1990s and 2000s, known for his classical style and deep understanding.
Swift Victories
Three of the eleven matches ended quickly with clean 2–0 wins in the first rapid segment.
GM Samuel Sevian, America’s young star, was the first to advance. Known for his sharp, fearless play, Sevian beat GM Evgeniy Najer after two strong rapid games.
Soon after, GM Alexey Sarana of Serbia also booked his spot. The 2023 European Champion defeated GM Jorden Van Foreest in two technical endgames. “This is the most exciting tournament to play and watch,” Sarana said after his match.
GM Nodirbek Yakubboev of Uzbekistan joined them next. He showed great calculation against GM Thai Dai Van Nguyen, spotting the tactical shot 24.Rxe6! to finish the game beautifully.
Big Names Move Forward
GM Richard Rapport ended Turkey’s young sensation Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus’s impressive run with a 1.5–0.5 win. Rapport’s creative and artistic play stood out once again.
Chinese star Wei Yi also advanced, showing flawless endgame technique against Benjamin Gledura. His compatriot Yu Yangyi followed, calmly winning his match against Indian GM Karthik Venkataraman.
Fighting Till the End
The 10+10 rapid games brought even more drama. GM Daniil Dubov beat Georg Meier with a brilliant tactical finish after a long series of draws.
GM Andrey Esipenko bounced back after losing his first classical game to Pouya Idani and won the match with impressive composure.
But there was heartbreak for Indian fans. GM Vidit Gujrathi, one of India’s top players, lost a tough battle to Sam Shankland. Vidit had chances but couldn’t hold on as Shankland fought back and won in the 10+10 stage.
The Hero of the Day: MVL
French GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave stole the spotlight. In an epic eleven-game marathon, he came back twice to defeat Vladislav Artemiev in Armageddon. MVL kept his cool even with just seconds on the clock. “It took all I had to come back and win it,” he said, visibly relieved after the match.
Looking Ahead
As the sun set in Goa, the field was down to 32 players. The tiebreaks showed what makes the World Cup special — skill, stamina, and steel nerves.
The next round promises thrilling encounters. Here are five matches every fan should watch:
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Erigaisi vs Leko
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Praggnanandhaa vs Dubov
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Keymer vs Esipenko
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Rapport vs Shankland
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Sindarov vs Yu Yangyi
Tomorrow, November 10, is a rest day. Round 4 begins on November 11 at 3 PM local time. Fans can follow the live action on the FIDE YouTube Channel with commentary by GMs Evgenij Miroshnichenko and Jan Gustafsson.
Photos: Michal Walusza, FIDE_Chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
