FIDE World Cup: Quick Draw Sets Up Final Tiebreak as Esipenko Claims Third Place
The final day of classical chess at the FIDE World Cup brought two very different battles.
On one board, Javokhir Sindarov and Wei Yi needed only a draw to head into tiebreaks. That is exactly what happened. The game finished in just 30 minutes, with both players clearly saving energy for the big fight tomorrow.
On the other board, Nodirbek Yakubboev had to win at all costs to stay alive in the match for third place. Pressure played a huge role, and one early mistake against Andrey Esipenko cost him the game and the match.
Before the round began, Olympic badminton star Saina Nehwal made the ceremonial first move, inspiring the crowd at the venue.
🔥 Esipenko’s Clean Victory for Third Place
Yakubboev chose an offbeat Neo-Catalan as White, hoping to surprise his opponent. Instead, a single inaccurate move changed everything.
On move 11, White played 11.Bxd5?, a decision called “inexcusable” by GM Peter Leko. This mistake handed Black full control of the light squares. Within a few moves, Esipenko’s pieces were perfectly placed, and White’s king was under constant danger.
Despite trying to fight back, Yakubboev couldn’t survive the attack. Esipenko finished the game with a smooth, instructive checkmating net. With two classical wins, he secured:
✔ 3rd place
✔ A spot in the 2026 Candidates Tournament
A relieved Esipenko left the hall, having avoided tiebreaks entirely.
🤝 Sindarov vs Wei Yi: A Short, Peaceful Draw
The finalists repeated the Four Knights Spanish (Rubinstein Variation) — a well-known drawing line. Both players blitzed out moves quickly, clearly preparing for tomorrow’s clash.
The real battle for the title will be decided in tiebreaks, where speed and accuracy will matter most.
👑 Finalists at a Glance
Wei Yi 🇨🇳
Wei Yi is known as one of the most talented attacking players of his generation. He became a Grandmaster at just 13, and his creativity on the board has made him a fan favorite.
📌 Notable Achievements:
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3× Chinese Champion
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Olympiad Gold in 2014 and 2018
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Winner of Tata Steel Masters 2024
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Creator of the famous attacking masterpiece vs Lázaro Bruzón (2015)
🏆 Road to the Final (2025 World Cup)
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Defeated Piorun (2–0, classical)
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Beat Gledura (rapid tiebreaks)
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Beat Maghsoodloo (final blitz game)
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Beat Sevian (classical)
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Beat Arjun Erigaisi (rapid)
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Beat Esipenko (rapid)
Javokhir Sindarov 🇺🇿
Sindarov became a Grandmaster at age 12, one of the youngest ever. He’s a key member of the Uzbek team that won the 2022 Olympiad in Chennai and one of the fastest-rising stars in world chess.
📌 Notable Achievements:
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2× Uzbek National Champion
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Winner of TePe Sigeman 2025
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Top scorer with 2796 performance rating at the World Rapid Teams
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Finalist of UzChess Cup Masters
🏆 Road to the Final (2025 World Cup)
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Beat Petrov
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Beat Theodorou
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Beat Yu Yangyi (tiebreaks)
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Beat Frederik Svane
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Beat José Martínez (long marathon match)
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Beat Nodirbek Yakubboev (tiebreaks)
🏆 The Title Fight Awaits
Both finalists are future Candidates and world-class talents. Tomorrow, only one will lift the Viswanathan Anand Trophy and become the FIDE World Cup Champion.
⏱ Tiebreaks start at 15:00 tomorrow. Don’t miss the action!
🎥 Watch live on FIDE’s YouTube channel with commentary by GM Jan Gustafsson and GM Peter Leko.
Photos: Michal Walusza, FIDE_Chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
