FIDE World Cup 30 October - 27 November 2025

[Mick Norris]

Wei Yi was lucky there

Both remaining matches should be close

[Matt Mackenzie]

That's got to hurt for Esipenko, but overall Wei Yi has deserved this.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Black is OK then - unless he leaves a rook en prise.

[Paul Cooksey]

I'm pretty happy with what this gives us for candidates qualification from the World Cup. I was worried earlier we would get three qualifiers who had no realistic chance of becoming world champion. But Wei Yi and Sindarov are both serious contenders. The later particularly given his age.

I suspect the third qualifier will be an also ran in the candidates, I would like to replace him and Bluebaum with a couple of the top 10 rated players who have not qualified. But I appreciate "players Paul reckons could win the World Championship" lacks something as a qualifying methodology even if it would give consistently good outcomes.

[Jonathan Rogers]

I'm pretty happy with what this gives us for candidates qualification from the World Cup. I was worried earlier we would get three qualifiers who had no realistic chance of becoming world champion. But Wei Yi and Sindarov are both serious contenders. The later particularly given his age.

I suspect the third qualifier will be an also ran in the candidates, I would like to replace him and Bluebaum with a couple of the top 10 rated players who have not qualified. But I appreciate "players Paul reckons could win the World Championship" lacks something as a qualifying methodology even if it would give consistently good outcomes.

It might also prove controversial, yes.

I am not sure how one can devise a system which gives every strong player a theoretical chance of qualifying and yet eliminates the possibility of unlikely qualifiers. Thirty years ago it was not such a problem because the number of capable players lurking just outside the world top 16 was not so high, but now anyone in the top 150 can give a very good game to anyone - including those at the very top.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

While the focus will be on whether Esipenko or Yakubboev (single 'k', double 'b', -oev ending) will win and qualify for the Candidates, who would like to pick a winner between Wei Yi and Sindarov?

I will go for Sindarov as Wei Yi seems to be low on energy, though both will be on a high after qualifying.

[LawrenceCooper]

While the focus will be on whether Esipenko or Yakubboev (single 'k', double 'b', -oev ending) will win and qualify for the Candidates, who would like to pick a winner between Wei Yi and Sindarov?

I will go for Sindarov as Wei Yi seems to be low on energy, though both will be on a high after qualifying.

It's one of the few events where I don't really care about the final but can't wait for the 3rd/4th place play-off. For obvious reasons it's normally the total opposite.

[Geoff Chandler]

"Wei Yi was lucky there." or was Esipenko unlucky?
You rarely hear of a player after making such a blunder as being unlucky.
Esipenko will have a bit of trouble of shaking that one off, so in that respect I'd make Yakubboev the favourite because he will sleep better tonight. (yes the 3rd place play-off is over shadowing who actually wins the world cup.)

Partly agree with Jonathan that anyone in the 150 if they play well enough and seize their chance belong in the candidates. I'd say the top 50. Take out Magnus and you could not with any degree of certainty say who would beat who in this event. And even then it took Magnus a few times to finally win it.

[Mick Norris]

I'm pretty happy with what this gives us for candidates qualification from the World Cup. I was worried earlier we would get three qualifiers who had no realistic chance of becoming world champion. But Wei Yi and Sindarov are both serious contenders. The later particularly given his age.

I suspect the third qualifier will be an also ran in the candidates, I would like to replace him and Bluebaum with a couple of the top 10 rated players who have not qualified. But I appreciate "players Paul reckons could win the World Championship" lacks something as a qualifying methodology even if it would give consistently good outcomes.

It probably demonstrates that the winners of both the Grand Prix and World Cup are worthy Candidates but the runners up less so

Is there actually a need for 8 Candidates rather than, say, 6?

[LawrenceCooper]

I'm pretty happy with what this gives us for candidates qualification from the World Cup. I was worried earlier we would get three qualifiers who had no realistic chance of becoming world champion. But Wei Yi and Sindarov are both serious contenders. The later particularly given his age.

I suspect the third qualifier will be an also ran in the candidates, I would like to replace him and Bluebaum with a couple of the top 10 rated players who have not qualified. But I appreciate "players Paul reckons could win the World Championship" lacks something as a qualifying methodology even if it would give consistently good outcomes.

It probably demonstrates that the winners of both the Grand Prix and World Cup are worthy Candidates but the runners up less so

Is there actually a need for 8 Candidates rather than, say, 6?

I've long thought that I was the only person who thought that, so happy to hear that I'm not alone. I've always felt that 14 rounds is too long and would prefer 6 players and 10 rounds. Two to qualify from the Grand Swiss, two from the World Cup and two from the FIDE Circuit.

I realise that many people will say that would be too short and denies two players the opportunity which is why I've tended to keep such thoughts to myself.

[Matt Mackenzie]

I like having longer tournaments on the whole, we don't need to speed everything up all the time.

And how long did the 1953 event take again?

[Mick Norris]

I'm pretty happy with what this gives us for candidates qualification from the World Cup. I was worried earlier we would get three qualifiers who had no realistic chance of becoming world champion. But Wei Yi and Sindarov are both serious contenders. The later particularly given his age.

I suspect the third qualifier will be an also ran in the candidates, I would like to replace him and Bluebaum with a couple of the top 10 rated players who have not qualified. But I appreciate "players Paul reckons could win the World Championship" lacks something as a qualifying methodology even if it would give consistently good outcomes.

It probably demonstrates that the winners of both the Grand Prix and World Cup are worthy Candidates but the runners up less so

Is there actually a need for 8 Candidates rather than, say, 6?

I've long thought that I was the only person who thought that, so happy to hear that I'm not alone. I've always felt that 14 rounds is too long and would prefer 6 players and 10 rounds. Two to qualify from the Grand Swiss, two from the World Cup and two from the FIDE Circuit.

I realise that many people will say that would be too short and denies two players the opportunity which is why I've tended to keep such thoughts to myself.

Great minds think alike/fools seldom differ, delete as applicable

[Mick Norris]

I like having longer tournaments on the whole, we don't need to speed everything up all the time.

And how long did the 1953 event take again?

4 Candidates playing each other 4 times each then

I would like to go back to Interzonals and Candidate Matches, but no chance of that

[James Pratt]

I like having longer tournaments on the whole, we don't need to speed everything up all the time.

And how long did the 1953 event take again?

Matt's question is easily answered. It will take as long as people keep recommending Bronstein's dear old book!
James

[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.