FIDE World Cup 30 October - 27 November 2025

[Christopher Kreuzer]

And again, like yesterday, Mickey is not finding the sharpest and best continuation... 15.b5 resolves too much of the tension (says the armchair warrior) and his opponent may again be able to wriggle out. Fingers crossed Mickey can keep up the pressure.

EDIT: Sorry, I mixed up an analysis line with the actual game play. Mickey actually played 15.Bg4.

[NickFaulks]

Lodici spent ages over 15...dxc4, presumably trying to work out whether his position is completely lost. Nothing to be done, just play it and find out!

[NickFaulks]

I am struggling to believe what I am seeing on my screen.

[LawrenceCooper]

I am struggling to believe what I am seeing on my screen.

Yes, sat at home with the benefit of an engine chess does seem a much easier game than when we are playing it.

[John Moore]

Mickey played moves 23-27 very quickly and obviously miscalculated something because the final position is horrible.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Oh dear.

[NickFaulks]

Yes, sat at home with the benefit of an engine chess does seem a much easier game than when we are playing it.

Fully aware of that and say it myself, but no.

[LawrenceCooper]

0-1 confirmed. If it is his last world cup then it's a very painful way to sign off.

[John Moore]

And Mickey is out - a shame but he certainly had his chances over the two games.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Funny to think that Black was simply winning with 3-1 on the queenside despite being a piece down. Certainly Lodici rode his luck but he did at least create unclear positions in which Adams wasn't able to play at his full strength.

Does this mean that Leko is now the oldest man standing?

There are many other surprise exits in this round, of course - Gukesh, Giri, Mamedyarov, and Abdusattorov (who would have made an interesting candidate, alas). Much more of this and FIDE will be concerned that relatively unknown players will qualify and go nowhere.

[Mick Norris]

FIDE show no signs of concern for anything sensible

[Christopher Kreuzer]

11 of the 32 matches go to faster tiebreaks. Feels like a low amount. The Svane brothers can no longer meet in the semis (Rasmus lost to Liang, but Frederick beat Gukesh).

Keymer marches on. But a long way still to go. The earliest he could meet his coach Leko is the semis.

Has any analysis ever been done on whether (maybe only in the later rounds) the strain and energy expended on a second day of play makes people more likely to lose in the next round?

[Matt Mackenzie]

Much more of this and FIDE will be concerned that relatively unknown players will qualify and go nowhere.

Alternatively, it is increasingly Keymer's event to lose.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Much more of this and FIDE will be concerned that relatively unknown players will qualify and go nowhere.

Alternatively, it is increasingly Keymer's event to lose.

No way you can say that yet. So many strong players.

Interesting all-German clash between Bluebaum and Donchenko. They (and Frederick Svane) would not meet Keymer before the final. Seven players from India left, though some face tiebreaks tomorrow.

[John Moore]

Ghazarian's non-appearance does at first sight seem inexcusable.

Deliberately choosing to play in another event should surely invite sanctions.

Ghazarian was on 6/7 in the Bavarian congress but has two byes in the last two rounds of the nine round event! Perhaps FIDE has caught up with him.