Chess World Cup: Wei vs Sindarov final heads into tie-break after Game 2 ends in draw, Esipenko qualifies for Candidates

Tie-break? Bring it on.

That has been the theme song at the Chess World Cup, with Wei Yi and Javokhir Sindarov singing it rather well at Resort Rio in Goa on Tuesday. They agreed to a quick draw in the second classical game of the semifinal.

Their first game had also been drawn, but not as fast, and Wednesday’s tie-break games – in rapid and then blitz if necessary – will now determine the champion.

The second classical game, in fact, proved shorter than a rapid one.

Wei and Sindarov needed just 24 minutes – and the minimum 30 moves — to finish their Four Knights Game. The players’ approach to such a crucial game was not surprising, though.

Wei Yi (left) and Javokhir Sindarov’s (right) final will be decided on tie-break.
| Photo Credit:
FIDE

The day’s other game was just as important. Andrey Esipenko and Nodirbek Yakubboev were fighting for a place in the Candidates tournament, the qualifier that would decide the World championship challenger (the top three from the World Cup get the ticket to Cyprus directly). And Esipenko won that game, and thus the match 2-0 to qualify for the Candidates.

After winning his first game, the Russian only needed a draw. With his Uzbek rival in a must-win situation as only a full point could have forced a tie-break, it instead proved a nightmare for Yakubboev.

In the English Opening game, Yakubboev got into an inferior position early with a dubious 11th move with his bishop, and a couple of moves later, Esipenko came up with an excellent pawn-push on the queen-side to clinch the game.

From there, it was a steep slide for Yakubboev, who eventually resigned after 26 moves, with checkmate not far away.

Not many may grudge Esipenko’s victory. It was his blunder in the semifinal against Wei that prevented him from booking his place in the Candidates earlier. “It is the best performance of my career,” he said shortly after staging the spirited comeback.

Published on Nov 25, 2025