 "Chess World Cup 2025: Wei Yi holds Sindarov with black in Game 1 of Finals; Esipenko wins third-place playoff")
Chinese GM Wei Yi played another solid game with black pieces to hold GM Javokhir Sindarov to a draw in the opening game of the FIDE World Cup 2025 final in Panaji, Goa on Monday, November 24. Meanwhile, GM Andrey Esipenko defeated GM Nodirbek Yakubboev in the third-place match here on Monday.
In the first game of the final, Wei once again opted for Petrov defence with black and made Sindarov take risks to look for a win.
And Wei’s plan almost worked as the Chinese was in a slightly stronger position in the bishop-pawn end game. But Sindarov was alert to the challenges posed by his opponent and the two players accepted to a draw after 50 moves.
The final stage of the FIDE World Cup has begun, and the tension in Goa couldn’t be higher. With 🇨🇳 Wei Yi vs 🇺🇿 Javokhir Sindarov fighting for the first place and the 120,000 USD first prize, and Andrey Esipenko vs 🇺🇿 Nodirbek Yakubboev battling for the final Candidates spot,… pic.twitter.com/arjecGfzbc
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) November 24, 2025
In the third-place play-off, GM Nodirbek Yakubboev opted for the Sicilian defence and had to dig himself out of a hole in the middle game.
Though he managed to equal the position with Esipenko helping with some questionable choices, the Uzbekistan GM was definitely under time trouble as he had just three minutes left on the clock with more than 10 moves left to play to meet the time control in the end game.
Esipenko, who had lost the semifinal tiebreak due to a blunder, kept his cool and forced Yakubboev to resign after 38 moves and will now only need to draw with black to assure himself a Candidates Spot.
FIDE World Cup 2025 Finals, Game 1: Results
GM Javokhir Sindarov (UZB) drew with GM Wei Yi (CHN) 0.5:0.5
GM Andrey Esipenko (FIDE) beat GM Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB) 1:0
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