Chess World Cup: Wei-Sindarov contest ends in draw, Esipenko beats Yakkuboev in third-place playoff

It was perhaps only fitting that Abhinav Bindra made the ceremonial opening move at the Chess World Cup on Monday. Like chess, shooting too is a lonely sport.

It was the first game of the final of one of the biggest events in the chess calendar, and India’s first-ever individual gold medallist at the Olympics made the first move for Javokhir Sindarov, taking the ‘e’ pawn two squares forward at Resort Rio in Goa.

A little earlier, while talking to reporters, the articulate Bindra said that he was more of a follower of chess players than the game itself. For the game’s followers, growing in numbers rapidly in India, there may not have been too much excitement in the final’s first encounter. But it had its moments before Wei Yi and Sindarov decided to split the point after 50 moves; the opposite-coloured bishop ending.

Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra (centre) made the ceremonial first move for Javokhir Sindarov (left), taking the ‘e’ pawn two squares forward.
| Photo Credit:
FIDE

This was the first time Wei and Sindarov were coming face-to-face in the classical format. The Chinese opted for Petrov’s Defence and managed to create a promising position, but he didn’t really press, opting to capture the knight instead of a pawn, which would have given him more to play for.

The stakes are high in the other match, too. Andrey Esipenko, after making that terrible blunder against Wei that cost him a place in the Candidates, should be feeling better. The Russian beat Nodirbek Yakubboev to take a 1-0 lead in the third-place playoff.

This time, playing from the white side of a Sicilian Defence (Four Knights), Esipneko was the beneficiary of some weak moves under time pressure from his opponent, in a rook-and-minor-piece ending. The Uzbek resigned on the 38th move, when he was about to lose his knight.

Published on Nov 24, 2025