FIDE World Cup 30 October - 27 November 2025

[LawrenceCooper]

Martinez-Sindarov wheeled out a theoretical line of the Four Knights ending in perpetual check on move 25.

[Mick Norris]

Esipenko - Shankland draw so at least 2 tiebreaks tomorrow

Edit - 3 tiebreaks, as Wei Yi has held a difficult game

[LawrenceCooper]

Esipenko - Shankland draw so at least 2 tiebreaks tomorrow

Edit - 3 tiebreaks, as Wei Yi has held a difficult game

I was puzzled that Arjun didn't play 24 Bxd5 which seems to win a pawn as b7 will fall but presumably there was a good reason.

[LawrenceCooper]

The final game is also a draw so Donchenko is eliminated and Nodirbek Yakubboeh is the first player through to the semi-final.

[Nick Burrows]

I was puzzled that Arjun didn't play 24 Bxd5 which seems to win a pawn as b7 will fall but presumably there was a good reason.

Possibly an error calculating the following forcing line?

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nc3 c6 6. Bf4 Bf5 7. Nh4 Nh5 8. Nxf5 Nxf4 9. g3 Ne6 10. e3 Nd7 11. Qb3 Qb6 12. Qc2 g6 13. Nh4 Bg7 14. Bg2 O-O 15. O-O Rfe8 16. Nf3 Rac8 17. Rfe1 Nf6 18. Rac1 c5 19. dxc5 Rxc5 20. Qe2 Qc6 21. Nd2 Nd7 22. Nb3 Bxc3 23. bxc3 Rxc3 24. Bxd5 Qxd5 25. Rxc3 Ng5 26. e4 Rxe4 27. Rd1 Nh3+ 28. Kf1 Rxe2 29. Rxd5 Rxf2+ 30. Ke1 Nf6

[LawrenceCooper]

I was puzzled that Arjun didn't play 24 Bxd5 which seems to win a pawn as b7 will fall but presumably there was a good reason.

Possibly an error calculating the following forcing line?

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nc3 c6 6. Bf4 Bf5 7. Nh4 Nh5 8. Nxf5 Nxf4 9. g3 Ne6 10. e3 Nd7 11. Qb3 Qb6 12. Qc2 g6 13. Nh4 Bg7 14. Bg2 O-O 15. O-O Rfe8 16. Nf3 Rac8 17. Rfe1 Nf6 18. Rac1 c5 19. dxc5 Rxc5 20. Qe2 Qc6 21. Nd2 Nd7 22. Nb3 Bxc3 23. bxc3 Rxc3 24. Bxd5 Qxd5 25. Rxc3 Ng5 26. e4 Rxe4 27. Rd1 Nh3+ 28. Kf1 Rxe2 29. Rxd5 Rxf2+ 30. Ke1 Nf6

Wow, yes, that does look very scary. I knew there would be more to it than just a simple two move tactic.

[Geoff Chandler]

I was puzzled that Arjun didn't play 24 Bxd5 which seems to win a pawn as b7 will fall...

From this...
4r1k1/pp1n1p1p/2q1n1p1/3p4/8/1Nr1P1P1/P3QPBP/2R1R1K1 w - - 0 24
..and then seeing this in your mind a few moves later.
6k1/pp1n1p1p/6p1/3q2n1/4r3/1NR3P1/P3QP1P/4R1K1 w - - 0 27

It is getting messy and I'm not even thinking about getting a b7 pawn. 27.Rd1 (no way would I have seen that in my mind, maybe if the position appeared on the board.) I hated having a Queen and a Knight sniffing around my King and there are enough ghosts on the board to put anyone but a computer off.
I would not be giving up my g2 Bishop for a lousy pawn, Probably Rxc3 and Rc1 and take it from there.

Smashing event. Wonderful to see the rating table turned on it's head even if it is a two game cut throat affair. Once tie breaks start classical ratings are meaningless. 24 Indian players started and now there is only one left. Arjun Erigaisi. I think he will win this. Hope so.

[NickFaulks]

Wei Yi having a go at refuting the French.

[LawrenceCooper]

Wei Yi having a go at refuting the French.

The attack looked terrifying, Arjun did well to escape just an exchange down.

[LawrenceCooper]

Wei Yi having a go at refuting the French.

The attack looked terrifying, Arjun did well to escape just an exchange down.

Arjun saves the draw, Martinez & Esipenko both 1 up.

[Roger de Coverly]

Arjun did well to escape just an exchange down.

He survives to a draw, defending two bishops against rook and two connected passed pawns.

[LawrenceCooper]

Shankland & Sindarov equalise, Arjun knocked out.

[Mick Norris]

Very impressive from Wei Yi, he must be favourite now

[LawrenceCooper]

Esipenko 1 up, all square in the other match.

[Mick Norris]

Esipenko through