FIDE World Cup 30 October - 27 November 2025

[LawrenceCooper]

Sindarov-Wei Yi draw game 1. The 3rd/4th place play-off appears to be turning in Esipenko's favour with Yakubboev short of time in an ending that is becoming problematic.

Esipenko wins in 38 moves.

[Paul Ashton]

The 1953 candidates was almost two months long(29 Aug to 24 Oct). 15 players in a double round robin. The 1959 and '62 Candidates weren't much easier. Only eight players in each but in a quadruple round robin. Both just short of two months.

[LawrenceCooper]

Game 2 of Wei Yi-Sindarov was an uneventful Four Knights where they liquidated into a drawn opposite bishop ending.

[LawrenceCooper]

Esipenko has offered a rook sacrifice, albeit a more intentional one than his accident against Wei Yi. His position already looks very promising.

[Mick Norris]

Another example of unbalancing the game to avoid drawing lines, I assume

I think Esipenko would make a stronger Candidate

[LawrenceCooper]

Another example of unbalancing the game to avoid drawing lines, I assume

I think Esipenko would make a stronger Candidate

Esipenko wins a crushing game to finish 2-0 and claim the third Candidates place. An impressive reaction to his semi-final blunder.

[NickFaulks]

Horrific game from Yakubboev, to add to his meltdown yesterday.

I have never been a serious player, so I cannot put myself in the shoes of the competitors. However, there is ample evidence from this and previous World Cups that this is a uniquely exhausting format, leading to chess of of a quality which you would not normally expect to see from such players.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They_Shoo ... %3F_(film)

I hope that Wei Yi and Sindarov have made the right decision to take a rest before the title is decided tomorrow.

[Mick Norris]

Tiebreak underway, Sindarov opens d4

[NickFaulks]

Sensible game by both players, unless you think Sindarov should have tried for more with the white pieces. Easier said than done.

[Mick Norris]

Draw; Sindarov missed a complicated win at move 31 in the ending

[LawrenceCooper]

Sindarov wins the second rapid game, the match and the world cup.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

So my prediction of a teenage World Cup winner did come to pass. Not as young as Ponomariov (if you count the event he won back in the day), but still an impressive achievement by Sindarov. How far do people think he might be able to go?

[Matt Mackenzie]

Both finalists are a worthy addition to the Candidates - Esipenko might find it a bit tougher but should still do better than Abasov last time.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Leonard Barden's column leads with Sindarov's win and mentions Ponomariov as a point of comparison in terms of ages:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/ ... sic-begins