FIDE World Cup continues to hang in balance after Game 1 of both semi-finals end in draw

Both semi-finals in the 2025 FIDE World Cup in Goa continue to hang in the balance with Nodirbek Yakubboev and Andrey Esipenko playing out draws against Javokhir Sindarov and Wei Yi respectively. Yakubboev held Sindarov to a draw in the all-Uzbek semi-final showdown at Resort Rio in Arpora while playing as white, the two shaking hands after 30 moves.

The outcome on the other board wasn’t too different with Chinese No 1 Wei, who had defeated Indian No 1 Arjun Erigaisi in the quarter-finals, holding Esipenko to a 33-move stalemate while playing as white.

The Uzbek showdown witnessed little drama with as the two youngsters remained on level terms throughout the contest, maintaining an accuracy above 99 per cent after starting with a Queen’s Gambit opening.

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Yakubboev offered a Queen exchange in the 11th move, which Sindarov promptly accepted, with the two playing out a bishop exchange right after. Pieces continued to get knocked off the board until Yakubboev and Sindarov decided to shake hands in a rook vs knight endgame despite the latter enjoying a sizeable time advantage.

Game 1 of the semifinals delivered two balanced battles — both matches ending in solid draws.
Everything is still wide open, and tomorrow’s Game 2 will decide who gets one step closer to the final. ♟🔥
📍 Goa, India 🇮🇳
🗓 October 31 – November 26
📷 Michał Walusza / FIDE pic.twitter.com/HVp8dJVsp4

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) November 21, 2025

Wei fights back against Esipenko

Wei, who had defeated Arjun 2.5-1.5 in the quarters after winning the second game in the tie-breaks, staved off a dangerous charge from his Russian opponent after a French Defense opening.

After the game witnessed a pair of knights get knocked off the board early, Esipenko continued to build a solid position for himself with his queen menacingly hovering around the middle of the board. The middle game also witnessed Wei think long and hard over his moves, resulting in Esipenko gaining a major time advantage over the Chinese Grandmaster on the clock.

Wei, however, ensured the two players would remain on level terms heading into the second game with a flurry of solid moves, threatening his opponent’s king with his bishop (28. Bxa6) queen (31. Qe4, 33. Qxd7+) and rook (29. Rd8, 32. Rd7+) to force a draw.