Esipenko strikes first against Yakubboev as Sindarov and Wei Yi draw
After seven gruelling rounds and twenty-three days of intense chess, the FIDE World Cup reached its final stage with Wei Yi and Javokhir Sindarov battling for first place and the 120,000 USD first prize, and Andrey Esipenkoand Nodirbek Yakubboev fighting for third place and the final Candidates qualification spot. Both matches carry enormous weight, creating a tense atmosphere throughout the hall. In the match for the title, a complex opening led to a position where Wei Yi had chances to push for more, but with the Black pieces he steered the game toward a more balanced continuation and an eventual draw. On the other board, Andrey Esipenko successfully recovered from yesterday’s loss and struck first in his match against Yakubboev. A notable change in the hall today was the arrival of the official trophy, the Vishwanathan Anand Trophy, displayed on the stage for the first time. Glistening under the overhead lights, it immediately drew the attention of media, spectators, and the players themselves. The ceremonial first move was made by Indian sporting icon Abhinav Bindra, an Olympic gold medalist in shooting who made history by winning India’s first-ever individual Olympic gold. A fitting choice for the board of Wei Yi – Sindarov, as both players are Olympiad gold medalists themselves in 2014, 2018, and 2022 respectively. Let’s take a look at the two games today: Game 1 results Andrey Esipenko 1-0 Nodirbek Yakubboev Javokhir Sindarov ½ – ½ Wei Yi Andrey Esipenko (2693) vs Nodirbek Yakubboev (2689) Emotionally, the battle for third place may be even more demanding, as both players entered today still carrying the weight of semifinal losses. Yakubboev was coming off a ½–1½ tiebreak defeat to his compatriot Javokhir Sindarov, while Esipenko had experienced an equally painful ½–1½ loss defined by one final, decisive blunder that turned a winning position into a loss. As our commentator GM Peter Leko noted during the broadcast, the best way to recover from a loss is simply to play good moves the next day, and that is exactly what Esipenko did to take the lead in the match. An Open Sicilian that soon transposed into the Four Knights Variation set the tone. The game quickly entered a sideline chosen by Yakubboev, who then spent considerable time on his ninth move, raising questions about his level of preparation and confidence. Esipenko achieved the better position out of the opening, and an important moment soon arose: Here, 15.Nd6 is a strong knight jump that plants a thorn in Black’s camp. After 15…Bxd6 16.exd6, the pawn cannot be captured by the queen straight away due to the threat of c4 hitting the pinned bishop. And after 16…Bxf3 17.Rxf3 Qxd6 18.f5, White is clearly better. In his post-game visit to the studio, Esipenko explained that he had seen this line but did not evaluate it as favorably for White as the computer suggests. Instead, he opted for 15.Be3 and the game continued. Eventually, the players transitioned into an endgame that chess engines evaluate as equal. Still, it required a great deal of accuracy from Black. After making a couple of inaccuracies, Sindarov should have gone for a rook endgame down a pawn with drawing prospects, but he chose otherwise. White was already slightly better on both the board and the clock. For better or worse Black should have traded his knight for the bishop and work hard for a draw after 32…Nxc1 33.Kxc1 cxb3 34.axb3 Rd3 35.Rf2+ Ke7 36.Rf3 Rd5. However, with only a few minutes remaining, Black played 32…h5?, allowing Esipenko to keep the bishop with 33.Bd2 (although Be3 was even stronger). After that, Black’s position collapsed rapidly: 33…Ra5 34.Be3 a6 35.bxc4 Re5 36.Bd4 Rg5 37.Kf2 Rxg3 38.Be3and Yakubboev resigned. Aside from playing good moves, Esipenko described how he recovered after yesterday’s heartbreak: dinner at his favourite restaurant, time relaxing with his second, and switching off from chess by watching the Arsenal vs Tottenham football match,.made even sweeter by his favourite team, Arsenal, winning and lifting his mood. Now the momentum shifts to Yakubboev, who must regroup and strike back with the White pieces tomorrow. Javokhir Sindarov (2721) vs Wei Yi (2752) The match for first place is a closely contested one, with both players in excellent form, riding strong momentum, and a touch of luck, from earlier rounds. Although both earned Candidates qualification after their semifinal victories, the work is far from over. One match remains to determine the overall champion and the significant prize fund. Both entered today with confidence reinforced by winning their previous matches. With the Black pieces, Wei Yi again relied on his main weapon of the event; the Petroff Defense: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6. Sindarov countered with the lesser-played Modern Attack, 3.d4, soon reaching a fresh position. Judging by their quick pace, both players appeared very well-prepared. The game evolved into a high-level strategic battle where both continued with impressive accuracy. It was the kind of game that is difficult to fully grasp at a glance, but revealing of the depth of understanding that top-level players possess. When everything appeared balanced, an important moment emerged: White should simply capture on c5 here, but instead erred with 22.Rb1, giving Black a chance, though not an easy one to convert. The sequence 22…Qxd3 23.Qxd3 Bxd3 24.Rxb2 resulted in the following position: This is the final critical moment. Black was the one pressing but needed to find 24…Rxf4! After 25.Nxc5 Rxg4 26.Bg3 Bxf1 27.Kxf1 Rf8+, Black has a rook and two pawns for two minor pieces. It is by no means winning, but Black is the stronger side pushing for something. Instead, Wei Yi chose 24…Bxe4, and the game immediately simplified into a drawn opposite-colored bishops endgame, followed by an expected draw. In the post-game interview, Wei Yi mentioned that he had calculated 24…Rxf4 but evaluated it as better for White, and since he had the Black pieces today, he preferred the more solid continuation, an outcome he said he was satisfied with. Tomorrow the players switch colours.
FIDE World Cup 2025 semifinals: Game 2 ends in deadlock as tiebreaks await
The second classical games of the semifinals followed a familiar script in Goa. Once again, deep preparation shaped both encounters, long early thinks filled the hall, and the positions that emerged were rich but balanced. And once again, neither game produced a winner. With two more draws on the board, all semifinal spots will now be decided in tomorrow’s tiebreaks. The ceremonial first moves were made by Mr. Sanjay Dhivre, IRS (Indian Revenue Service), Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, and Mrs. Bhagyahree Dhivare, IAS (Indian Administrative Service), CEO of the Election Commission Nagaland on board two. The first result arrived from the all-Uzbek clash between Javokhir Sindarov and Nodirbek Yakubboev. Their game featured subtle opening nuances before resolving into a level endgame on move 31. For two players who know each other exceptionally well and entered a line offering limited winning chances, the early handshake felt natural. The second game, between Andrey Esipenko and Wei Yi, carried more tension. The Chinese grandmaster had been outprepared and slightly outplayed in their first game. When I ran into him at dinner last night, I asked him about it, and he admitted he was “lucky” to escape with a draw. So it was concerning to see a similar storyline developing today when Esipenko, now with the white pieces, produced specific preparation and reached a slightly better position. He even had a moment where he could have pressed for more, but the chance passed. Wei stayed solid under pressure and steered the game to safety. With nearly a full month of play behind them, hours of preparation each day, and the physical and mental strain of the World Cup at its peak, fatigue is becoming a real presence for the final four. Today might have reflected exactly that. Here is how the games unfolded. Semifinals Game 2 results: Andrey Esipenko ½-½ Wei Yi Javokhir Sindarov ½-½ Nodirbek Yakubboev Andrey Esipenko (2693) vs Wei Yi (2752) Today’s game began with the Nimzowitsch Attack in the Petrov. Esipenko showed clear preparation in older theoretical paths, choosing 7.Bf4 (a line popular in the early 2000s) instead of the more modern 7.Be3. Wei Yi appeared surprised and paused for several minutes before replying. Despite having played this structure before, including a 2016 game against Wesley So, he clearly expected something different. This once again highlighted the strong preparation from Esipenko and his second, David Paravyan, who have been working effectively here in Goa (reportedly in between lobster dinners). Another notable moment arrived a few moves later when Esipenko played the rarer 10.Be2, spending around twelve minutes before committing. It raised the question of whether he had left his preparation or was digging deep to recall his lines, but in either case, it was another surprise. Later in the game, a critical moment arose, one that required calculation and understanding rather than automatic moves. In a position where White could press slightly, Esipenko chose a safer continuation instead of the line that offered the most practical chances. Here, the direct 20.f4 would have stopped Black from playing …g5 and left the h-pawn as a long-term target. It was not a winning attempt, but it was the kind of position where White makes Black solve problems under pressure. In a knockout setting, it would have been an attractive practical try. Instead, Esipenko chose 20.f3, allowing 20…g5. Both players developed naturally on the only open e-file. Wei tripled his heavy pieces lining up an “Alekhine’s gun” formation, but all rooks were eventually exchanged on the same file, easing Black’s defensive task. With the position equalised, the players began to repeat moves. Wei was low on time, and Esipenko played on briefly to push him to move forty, but no progress was possible. A second repetition confirmed the draw. Javokhir Sindarov (2721) vs Nodirbek Yakubboev (2689) The young Uzbek teammates agreed to a draw on move 31 in an objectively level endgame, but the opening phase contained several important subtleties. The game began with the Four Knights Spanish, the same opening Sindarov faced as Black in his second game against José Martínez in the quarterfinals, where the players followed a forcing drawing line. Today’s game started similarly but deviated early: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5. Here, Yakubboev visibly hesitated, reaching for his knight before pausing and finally committing to the Rubinstein Variation with 4…Nd4. Perhaps he recalled Sindarov’s previous game and preferred to avoid that exact path, but he went ahead with the move nonetheless. This time, White deviated with 5.Nxd4 instead of 5.Bc4. The resulting structure is known for being solid for White but lacking major winning prospects, making it an interesting choice from Sindarov, who is usually more ambitious with the White pieces. A key moment soon appeared, demanding long calculation from both players. Here, Black’s main theoretical choice is 9…0-0, willingly giving up the pawn because after 10.Bxd7 Bxd7 11.Qxd7 Rae8, Black has threats such as …Qxf2 and ample compensation through piece activity and pressure. However, with elimination on the line, the semifinalists have generally been choosing safer continuations. This may explain Yakubboev’s decision to play 9…c6 instead, keeping the pawn. But this was not ideal, as it allowed White to build some initiative with 10.Qe2+ Qe7 11.Qh5!. The point is that capturing the bishop with 11…cxb5, is met by 12.Bg5 with a heavy pressure along the e-file – a type of dynamic position that suits Sindarov well. After thinking for nearly 30 minutes, Sindarov instead played the immediate 10.Qh5. This nuanced move-order shift gave Black slightly more room to reorganize. Yakubboev gradually solved his development issues, exchanged pieces, and steered the game into a balanced endgame that led to the eventual draw. One might label this 99%-accuracy duel as a “stale draw,” but a closer look reveals several important moments. Still, taking this match to tiebreaks by teammates and close friends is understandable, if not expected. But tomorrow, only one of them will progress, and with faster time controls, the depth of
FIDE World Cup semifinals open with hard-fought draws
After a quiet rest day yesterday, the players returned to the hall where they have been competing for the last twenty days. A new stage setup elevated the boards, symbolic and fitting for the spectacle that the final rounds of the FIDE World Cup promise to bring. Today marked game one of the semifinals, and although both matches, Wei Yi vs Andrey Esipenko and Nodirbek Yakubboev vs Javokhir Sindarov, ended in draws, they were anything but uneventful. Deep preparation, opening surprises, time pressure and several only-move moments defined the day. Grandmaster Wei Yi, as has become routine, was the first to arrive, followed shortly by his opponent Grandmaster Andrey Esipenko. With a few minutes to spare before the round began, both sat quietly at the board, focused and still. Grandmaster Nodirbek Yakubboev arrived next, carrying his usual five bottles of water. Just before the clocks were started, the ceremonial first move took place, and moments later a slightly flustered and narrowly on-time Javokhir Sindarov entered the hall and took his seat opposite his Uzbek teammate. Today’s first move on the board between Wei Yi and Esipenko was made by Mr. Anup Shah, Managing Director of Resort Rio Goa, and Mrs. Alpa Shah, Director of Resort Rio Goa, two people who have led the wonderful hospitality provided to us throughout the last month. This month of remarkable chess has brought us to these intense final stages. As Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana, the first qualifier to the 2026 FIDE Candidates, stated online, the World Cup is an incredibly difficult tournament and regardless of how well one performs, only three participants leave truly happy: the three Candidates qualifiers. Watching the field shrink after every round has been bittersweet. With players departing every few days, the dining hall has grown quieter. And knowing that one of these four semifinalists, after fighting so hard to reach this point, will soon join the list of 202 eliminated players feels equally, if not more, bittersweet. Still, this is the nature of the event. Success here demands skill, stamina and a measure of luck. Semifinals Game 1 results: Wei Yi ½ – ½ Andrey Esipenko Nodirbek Yakubboev ½ – ½ Javokhir Sindarov Wei Yi (2752) vs Andrey Esipenko (2693) The first surprise of the day came immediately when Esipenko met Wei Yi’s 1.e4 with 1…e6. It was the same French Defense that the Chinese number one had successfully employed in his first quarterfinal game against Arjun Erigaisi. With a rest day available for preparation, unexpected choices made strategic sense, and Esipenko’s decision became even more logical when it became clear that he was not heading into a main line, but the Rubinstein Variation: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 followed by 4.Nxe4 Nd7. It was reasonable to assume that Wei Yi may not have deep practical experience here. Although initially caught off guard after anticipating what he considered a guaranteed Italian, our commentators Grandmasters Peter Leko and Jan Gustafsson quickly agreed that this was a clever and well-timed choice by Black. Wei Yi appeared taken aback by the opening and took his time before committing to a structure and a plan. Esipenko essentially won the opening phase, reaching a slightly better position with two bishops and holding a significant time advantage. Wei Yi, on the other hand, found himself struggling to find chances for activity while also feeling the growing pressure of the clock. Then, suddenly, everything turned. A critical nuance required Black to play 27…Qf5 to remove White’s queen from the center before taking the pawn on h5. That line would have left White with an inferior but holdable position – requiring accuracy. Instead, Esipenko played the immediate 27…Qxh5, and after several minutes of calculation, Wei Yi unleashed the stunning 28.Bxa6! The bishop cannot be taken because the Black king would be exposed to decisive threats. The game continued 28…e5 29.Rd8 Rxd8 30.Rxd8 Ka7. Black attacked the bishop and threatened with 31…Bf5 but another incredible only-move followed instantly: 31.Qa4! which drew applause in the studio from Peter Leko. The game then concluded with 31…bxa6 32.Rd7+ Bxd7 33.Qxd7+ Kb6, after which the players agreed to a draw due to an unavoidable three-fold repetition. Being caught in deep preparation and finding yourself worse as White in a World Cup semifinal is never easy, but Wei Yi once again showed why he is one of the strongest performers of the event. He held his nerve, calculated with precision under extreme pressure, and found the correct moment to strike. Esipenko has previously said that luck is a necessary ingredient for success in the World Cup, and today it was his opponent who had that combination of accuracy and good fortune. Nodirbek Yakubboev (2689) vs Javokhir Sindarov (2721) Despite arriving slightly late, Sindarov seemed relaxed and confident. This was evident not only from his quick early moves and usual pacing around the hall, but also from the enthusiastic high-five he exchanged with his board neighbour Andrey Esipenko as they crossed paths in the opening minutes. Yakubboev, who arrived with the benefit of two consecutive rest days after avoiding quarterfinal tiebreaks, came armed with strong preparation against Sindarov’s Semi-Slav, the same opening they had played in their last two classical encounters. White opted for a sideline with 5.Qd3, but Black appeared completely prepared and unfazed, blitzing out correct theory as if he had predicted it. Soon, in fact, it was Yakkuboev who seemed surprised, spending 23 minutes on his 11th move despite Black having played only natural, expected moves. Despite this sharp start, nothing complicated emerged. Once both players were out of theory, the position settled, and they navigated it with great accuracy. After trading down to an even endgame, where only White could really push for something, Black offered a draw on move 30, which Yakubboev accepted. It was a calm and unsurprising beginning for two players who know each other deeply and have faced each other many times. Tomorrow Sindarov will have the White pieces, and it will be interesting
Heartbreak for India as Arjun eliminated; Wei Yi, Esipenko, and Sindarov join Yakkuboev in the semifinals
Four draws yesterday left three semi-final spots undecided and brought six players to what may be the most stressful point of the World Cup so far. With everything riding on the rapid and blitz tiebreaks, the atmosphere in the hall was tense long before the clocks started. Spectators filled the room early, aware that today would determine who would keep their Candidates hopes alive. When the day concluded, Wei Yi, Javokhir Sindarov and Andrey Esipenko all won their matches, joining Nodirbek Yakkuboev who had qualified the previous day. It was also a heartbreaking afternoon for Indian fans as Arjun Erigaisi, the last remaining home player, was knocked out by Wei Yi. Before play began, the ceremonial first move was made on Board 1 of Martínez vs. Sindarov by Mr. Jayant Chaudhary, Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Government of India. With pressure high across all boards, here is how the quarterfinal tiebreak battles unfolded. QuarterfinalsTiebreak Results Arjun Erigaisi ½-1½ Wei Yi José Eduardo Martínez Alcántara 1½ -2½ Javokhir Sindarov Andrey Esipenko 3-1 Sam Shankland Wei Yi (2752) vs Arjun Erigaisi (2773)After yesterday’s classical game, in which the Chinese Grandmaster missed key moves and gave his opponent a chance to strike, Wei Yi made sure not to allow Arjun Erigaisi the same opportunity again. Arriving first to the hall today, he looked composed and focused, not a single leg shake, and ready to fight from game one. In the Steinitz Variation of the French Defense, Wei Yi, with the White pieces, launched an early kingside assault, steering the game into the kind of sharp tactical battle that suits his style and attacking instincts. The position was easy for Black to mishandle, and Arjun did exactly that after spending six minutes (a significant amount of time in rapid) selecting the worst move: Black has just played 10…f6?, allowing White to ignore the threat on the knight and play the immediate 11.Qh5!, followed by capturing on c5 and planting the queen on g6 for a direct assault on the king. Instead, Wei Yi chose 11.exf6, and after 11…Rxf6, Black remained worse, but the attack was at least more manageable. Eventually, White picked up the exchange on move 14, although, according to chess engines castling long first offered him the decisive advantage. Still, Wei Yi played with impressive accuracy up to a certain point but let his advantage slip away in time pressure. With the bishop pair, Arjun managed to simplify into equality and save the game with a draw. It was already a nerve-wracking start, and then came game two. A Petroff Defense where both players appeared well prepared led to a queenless middlegame. Though the young Indian Grandmaster seemed to be faring better than in the first encounter, he overpressed and struggled to coordinate his pieces. Indian fans may have felt relieved when the position liquidated into a stable endgame, until a critical moment unfolded and one lost tempo tilted the balance decisively: Here, Erigaisi played 41.Rf2+?, allowing 41…Bf5 42.Rb2 a6 43.d6 Ke6 44.Rd2 Bd3. The check was unnecessary; better was 41.Rb2 immediately, followed by 41…a6 42.d6 Bf5 43.Rd2. If 42…Ke6, then 43.Bb7 holds, as Black’s rook checks are harmless due to the bishop on d3. Another key moment, and Arjun’s final chance to save the game, came just a few moves later. Here Wei Yi erred with 46…Rh7 (when 46…Kd7 was stronger, as it freezes White’s pieces entirely). Arjun, playing with less than a minute, needed to find 47.Rd5, keeping the rook active and defending the pawn. Instead, he played 47.Bc6?, allowing 47…Rh3+ 48.Bf3 Bd3, leaving the White rook shut out of the game. Black collected the d-pawn and eventually created a passed pawn on the queenside. After rooks were exchanged, the resulting bishop endgame was hopeless for White. Still, they played all the way to checkmate. In the post-game interview, when asked whether he considered himself the favourite in tiebreaks (especially given his strong rapid rating of 2758 compared to Arjun’s 2708), Wei Yi was humble. He pointed out that one cannot assume superiority over Arjun in any format because he is so strong. Now the highest-rated player remaining in the event, Wei stated that he would prepare and approach the upcoming games normally, as any semifinal opponent would have to be strong to reach this stage. https://youtu.be/U04jf-HzV7Q Javokhir Sindarov (2721) vs José Eduardo Martínez Alcántara (2644) The match between these two rising stars began with an unexpected twist when Martínez, with the White pieces, opened with 1.b3. Sindarov, visibly surprised and shaking his leg in his chair, took a moment before responding, entering a structure he seemed unhappy with, made worse by falling behind on the clock. A critical moment appeared when Black, already slightly worse, played the losing move 35…Rf7? Keeping the rook on the back rank with 35…Re8 would have been better. Placed awkwardly and with the e2-bishop unprotected while White threatened Nd8, Black’s the position quickly deteriorated. Following a forced sequence, Martínez emerged an exchange up. Jose Eduardo was in full control in resulting endgame, with a dominant queen and rook duo on the 7th rank. A checkmate was soon inevitable, and Sindarov resigned, putting himself in a must-win situation. In his post-match interview, Sindarov admitted he was very upset with himself after the first game and gave himself a pep talk to play well in the second, and he delivered. Game two featured a symmetrical English Opening where the early phase already favoured the Uzbek talent. Martínez played aggressively and sacrificed a pawn, creating some activity on the kingside, but Sindarov handled the pressure, converted his material advantage, and eventually wove a mating net to equalize the score. https://youtu.be/Tbha_64yGZc Their first 10+10 rapid game, while drawn, was far from dull. Martínez launched a queenside pawn storm while Sindarov countered on the kingside. Sindarov missed a chance to gain a clear advantage by shifting focus to defense instead of pushing his own attack. The game
Three quarterfinals poised for decisive tiebreak battles
The tension was evident as players entered into the playing hall today, several arriving just minutes before the clocks were started, a sure sign of the pressure mounting at this decisive stage of the World Cup. The air in the playing hall was quiet and concentrated, yet packed with spectators eager to witness the eight remaining players in action. With only four spots in the semifinals, chess fans were treated to a blend of high-stakes precision and tightly controlled risk. The outcome was draws across all boards, meaning tiebreaks in three of them, and GM Nodirbek Yakkuboev advancing as the first semi-finalist after his victory over Alexander Donchenko yesterday. Before play began, the ceremonial first move was made by Mr. Anurag Singh Thakur, former Sports Minister of India, Member of Parliament, and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Coal and Mines on Board 2, for Erigaisi vs. Wei Yi. Quarterfinals Game 2 results: José Eduardo Martínez Alcántara ½-½ Javokhir Sindarov Arjun Erigaisi ½-½ Wei Yi Andrey Esipenko ½-½ Sam Shankland Alexander Donchenko ½-½ Nodirbek Yakubboev With the semifinal lineup still very much undecided, here’s a closer look at how each game unfolded today. Nodirbek Yakkuboev (2689) vs Alexander Donchenko (2641) Alexander Donchenko had a great deal at stake today. After fighting hard to survive the Round 5 tiebreaks, his classical loss yesterday left him in a must-win situation. He certainly tried, pushing until the very end, creating an imbalanced structure that forced Yakubboev to stay alert. The game followed the Exchange Variation of the Queen’s Gambit Declined, and Donchenko appeared well-prepared, gaining a 30-minute time advantage early on. However, despite his confident opening, his pace slowed and a series of imprecise choices led to a position where his winning chances faded. Black has just played the thematic 21…Bb1, aiming for a Ba2–c4 maneuver. While White has no obvious plan here, Donchenko chose one of the weakest options with 22.f3?, a move our commentators called “strange” as it gave Black easy counterplay. Yakkuboev responded with 22…f5 and followed through with his intended bishop maneuver, fully seizing the initiative. The critical moment came soon: White’s pieces were poorly coordinated, and the pawns on the third rank were vulnerable. Here, the powerful 26…Re8 could have posed major problems for White, especially with the threat of …Nb5 looming. If White tries passive defense with 27.Re1 Black builds up pressure with 27…Rb5 28.Rc2 Rb3. For instance, the natural-looking 29.Ng2 to guard the e-pawn is met by 29…Bd3 30.Rf2 (or 30.Rc3, also losing) 30…Bxb1 31.Rxb1 Nc4, leaving Black in full control. Instead, Yakkuboev started with 26…Rb5, allowing 27.Rg2. Though Donchenko escaped immediate danger, Black still held a comfortable edge. After further exchanges, the game entered a tense endgame where White appeared to retain some chances. However, Yakkuboev maintained accuracy and steered the game to a dead-even draw. With this result, he became the first player to qualify for the semifinals of the 2025 World Cup. Wei Yi (2752) vs Arjun Erigaisi (2773)As the only remaining Indian player in the field, Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi carries significant expectations. Yet he has remained composed throughout the event, arriving calm at the board each day and greeting enthusiastic fans waiting (and chanting his name) outside. After a quick draw yesterday, today’s strategy was different – with the White pieces, Arjun prepared a fresh idea in the Queen’s Gambit Declined. Wei Yi, however, played confidently and quickly as well. The game soon left known theory and entered territory in which both players could just play chess. Tension started when Wei Yi chose to complicate with 18…c5, accepting an isolated queen’s pawn but gaining activity. The position suddenly became sharp: Arjun played the quiet-looking 20.Qe2 instead of the more natural 20.Qb1. Commentators GMs Jan Gustafsson and Peter Leko praised it as “strong and unexpected,” as it unpins the queen while provocatively placing it opposite Black’s rook and hinting at Na4 ideas. It posed psychological pressure. Wei Yi spent over 30 minutes here, visibly unsettled and shifting in his chair, before deciding on 20…Qc6. After 21.Nd2, however, Black 21…Nd7? (21…Nh5 was the better choice – we will get into that mess later, so bear with me if you want to get into deep analysis) allowing a tactical sequence: 22.Nb3 Bxc3 23.bxc3 Rxc3 Here Arjun had a golden opportunity – 24.Bxd5! and after 24…Qc8 25.Rxc3 Qxc3 White simply captures a free pawn with 26.Bxb7. Black also can choose 24…Qxd5 – and here is why the earlier mistake of 21…Nd7 matters. 25.Rxc3 Ng5 26.e4 (only move to keep the advantage and stop …Nf3), 26…Rxe4 27.Rd1! And the d7-knight is ill-placed and hanging. Instead, Erigaisi played 24.Qd2? and after 24…Rxc1 25.Rxc1 Qa6 26.Bxd5 Nf6! Wei Yi equalized and the game was drawn on move 32. Now let’s go back to the better 21…Nh5 which makes the difference. Now 22.Nb3 Bxc3 23.bxc3 Rxc3 24.Bxd5 does not hold the same venom after 24…Qxd5 25.Rxc3 Ng5 26.e4 Rxe4 and Black’s pieces, particularly the knights, are very active. The same idea we saw in the previous line of 27.Rd1 is a big blunder because of the desperado 27…Qxb3! And suddenly Black would be winning. This tactic would not be the same with the knight on d7. All of this analysis just goes to show how small nuances of a position can affect the evaluation but only surface moves later, and it’s curious to know whether all of this was seen. After intense days like these, we don’t corner the players for interviews, but after tomorrow I will definitely find out from the match’s victor how much was calculated here. Javokhir Sindarov (2721) vs José Eduardo Martínez Alcántara (2644)The draw between Sindarov and Martínez was the most curious result of the day, not for the score, but for how swiftly it was achieved. The players entered a known drawing line in the Four Knights Spanish and followed the theory to a peaceful result in just 20 minutes. For Martínez, who had the White pieces and momentum from
Tight starts in quarterfinals as only Yakubboev strikes
The quarterfinals have arrived at the FIDE World Cup 2025 in Goa, and the stakes could not be higher. Eight players remain, none of whom have qualified for the FIDE Candidates before. The field is a mix of seasoned super grandmasters and inspired underdogs, all of whom have battled tiebreaks on their journey here. Today, with no easy matchups and everyone hungry for a breakthrough, the questions were simple: Who would strike first? Who would hold their nerve? Some players opted for safety from the start: Wei Yi vs Arjun Erigaisi saw lightning-fast preparation and 99% accuracy from both sides, ending in a draw within an hour. Whereas Nodirbek Yakubboev vs Alexander Donchenko saw a chaotic game, and the only decisive one of the day. The atmosphere was calm but charged. The ceremonial first moves, 1.Nf3 d5, were played on Board 2 (Wei Yi vs. Arjun Erigaisi) by Shri Alok Kumar, IPS, Director-General of Police of Goa, and Gourav Rakshit, Global Chess League Commissioner. Quarterfinals Game 1 results: Javokhir Sindarov ½–½ José Eduardo Martínez Alcántara Wei Yi ½–½ Arjun Erigaisi Sam Shankland ½–½ Andrey Esipenko Nodirbek Yakubboev 1–0 Alexander Donchenko Nodirbek Yakkuboev (2689) vs Alexander Donchenko (2641) According to GM Peter Leko, this was “the game of the day,” and indeed, it could have gone in multiple directions. Nodirbek Yakubboev entered the round fresh, having not dropped a single game, but without facing a player rated above 2650. Alexander Donchenko, on the other hand, the lowest seed remaining, has been fighting giants all event, eliminating Candidates-qualifiers Anish Giri (2769) and Matthias Blübaum (2680), and surviving a nerve-wracking tiebreak against Lê Quang Liêm (2729). When asked about his choice to play the Alekhine Anti-Grünfeld setup (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3), Yakubboev said he wanted a “complicated but solid central structure.” Early on, Donchenko overoressed instead of completing development. In this early position, the safe retreat 11…Ng7 would have been best, but Donchenko went for the aggressive 11…Qh4? Black prevented White from castling but at unacceptably high price. White’s king found a safe heaven on c2, while Black’s pieces were awkwardly misplaced. Things went from bad to worse for Doncheko as he had no active plan, while Yakubboev gradually improved his position and secured the decisive advantage by move 20. The final blow occurred right after the time control. White finished off nicely with 42.Qb8+ Re8 43.Rg8+ Kxg8 44.Qxe8+ and Black resigned. In the post-game interview, Yakubboev exuded confidence, not just about qualifying for the Candidates but going all the way to win the World Cup. Tomorrow he has the black pieces and will need only a draw against the German Grandmaster to seal his spot in the semi-finals. On paper, this task seems simple enough, but the stress brought on by the World Cup can drastically alter that at any point. https://youtu.be/tCIutOPMjWQ Javokhir Sindarov (2721) vs José Eduardo Martínez Alcántara (2644) Jose Martinez has had an incredible World Cup run, eliminating multiple top players in his wake – Nodirbek Abdussatorov (2750), Alexey Sarana (2675), and most recently, Pentala Harikrishna (2690). His momentum has been fueled by confidence, incredible preparation, and belief that his current strength is much more than his rating suggests. I think few players in the field could match this ambition as much as his opponent today – Javokhir Sindarov, the 19-year-old Uzbek star who earned his title at the mere age of 12, and is just a handful of points away from becoming Uzbekistan’s number one – overtaking Nodirbek Abdussatorov. A difference between the two, which could influence their approach to the classical segment, is their view of the faster time controls. Martinez thrives in the adrenaline of fast-paced chess, having even recently won Chess.com’s first edition of 3+0 Thursdays. Sindarov, on the other hand, had stated in his first interview with me that blitz is not his “type of chess”. Their first encounter featured a Queen’s Gambit Accepted line that has historically favoured White. Both players appeared to be well versed until Sindarov, playing with the white pieces, offered an early queen trade, which got Jose thinking – a rare occurrence for the Peruvian-Mexican grandmaster in the opening stage. Perhaps a sign of leaving his preparation and knowledge of the position. Despite the queenless middlegame, there was still a lot of play for both sides. Martinez, who at some point seemed more passive with the black pieces, and all pieces tied to the 6th-8th ranks, finally managed to break through with some space and simplifications. The resulting endgame saw both sides with four pawns each, white two knights and black a knight and a bishop. Then, a critical moment arose, when Martinez, with less than two minutes on his clock played incorrectly, giving White a chance: Here, Black has just played 33…f5, leaving the h6-pawn hanging. Sindarov however opted for 34.Ne5 – a nice-looking move if there hadn’t been a free pawn to capture (albeit at the expense of a somewhat awkward knight trapped on the rim after 34.Nxh6 Bc8 35.g4 Kf8 36.b6 Kg7 37.g5). A few moves later, the game was drawn. Wei Yi (2752) vs Arjun Erigaisi (2773) The heavyweight clash of the round featured two of the tournament favorites, both world-class talents with an eye on qualification. The downside: only one will progress. Both players arrived early at the board and looked relaxed. Their game followed a solid line of Closed Ruy López. Erigaisi, playing Black, blitzed out every single move and finished the entire game with more time on his clock than when he started – clear evidence of deep preparation. Both players showed perfect control: 99% accuracy, zero mistakes or inaccuracies, and a draw by repetition on move 31. A quiet start, but as the commentators noted, this match has all the ingredients for a fierce fight in Game 2. Sam Shankland (2654) vs Andrey Esipenko (2693) Between them, these players have appeared in ten World Cups. Both had their best runs in 2021: Shankland reached the
Quarterfinals set after high-stakes Round 5 tiebreaks
The FIDE World Cup in Goa reached a boiling point today as four intense tiebreak matches unfolded, each with a place in the quarterfinals on the line. With no more second chances and yesterday’s classical draws setting the stage, today’s rapid and blitz battles brought drama, tension, and decisive outcomes across the board. Before the games began, the ceremonial first move was made for Lê Quang Liêm on Board 2, by Mr. Kedar J Naik, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Goa and Chairman of the Goa Tourism Development Corporation. Sam Shankland and Andrey Esipenko secured clean wins early in the first rapid portion against Daniil Dubov and Alexey Grebnev respectively, while José Martínez defeated Pentala Harikrishna in the 10+10 rapid. Alexander Donchenko took Lê Quang Liêm into blitz territory before stamping his ticket to the next round. The quarterfinal lineup is now complete, and as the dust settled, four more players advanced with confidence and momentum on their side. Round of 16 tiebreaks results: Daniil Dubov 1-3 Sam Shankland Andrey Esipenko 2.5-1.5 Aleksey Grebnev José Martinez 3.5-2.5 Harikrishna Pentala Alexander Donchenko 4.5-3.5 Lê Quang Liêm Here’s how the day played out: Daniil Dubov – Sam Shankland In earlier interviews, Daniil Dubov made no secret of his strategy: to steer matches into tiebreaks. As a former World Rapid Champion, he felt this format played to his strengths. He also claimed that playing solidly with White and pushing with Black was the best way to capitalize on opponent’s overextending. But today, Sam Shankland flipped that plan on its head. Playing White in the first rapid game, he unleashed a novelty in the opening that led to an imbalanced position and early initiative on his side. With pressure mounting and the clock on his side, Shankland methodically limited Dubov’s options. Dubov, rarely short of creative ideas, struggled to find counterplay and instead fell into mistake after mistake, resulting in a convincing win for the American. The second game, a symmetrical English, saw early queen exchanges and a dry position that offered little for either side. A draw seemed impending, but Dubov overpushed in the endgame, losing the game and with it, his World Cup run came to an end. After the match, Shankland reflected on reaching the quarterfinals once before in 2021, a run that ended painfully at the hands of Sergey Karjakin in tiebreaks. “That’s haunted me ever since,” he admitted, adding that he now hopes to “banish the demon” for good. Andrey Esipenko – Alexey Grebnev It raised eyebrows when Andrey Esipenko took relatively quick draws in his classical games against Alexey Grebnev. But if anyone doubted his strategy, the first rapid game removed all uncertainty. After a Petroff turned into a wild opposite-side castling battle, Esipenko seized the initiative by move 14 and was in complete control by move 20. It was a dominant win. The second game was a stark contrast and stretched all the way to move 145. Esipenko, now with Black, came out of the opening in a stable position. When it looked like both players were shuffling pieces with no progress, Esipenko made a bold choice to open up the queenside. This ambition backfired with a missed tactic, and suddenly Grebnev was up a pawn. But nerves kicked in and Grebnev misplayed the critical move order and let Esipenko seize control once more. The game soon turned into a technical endgame with each side down to a rook and Grebnev holding two pawns to Esipenko’s one. Esipenko, calm and prepared, navigated the position to a theoretical draw. Ironically, by move 145, both players had more time on their clocks than they did on move 50. With this match victory, Esipenko reached the deepest stage of a FIDE World Cup in his career. Harikrishna Pentala – José Martinez This was widely expected to be the longest match of the day, especially after the first two rapid games ended in uneventful draws. Much of the chatter centered around José Martínez’s reputation as a blitz expert, regularly beating the world’s best online. That meant Harikrishna’s best chances were in the rapid phase. In their first rapid game, the players entered a Richter-Rauzer Sicilian and while both appeared prepared, a few subtle inaccuracies left Harikrishna with isolated doubled pawns and passive pieces. Martínez, whose pieces worked seamlessly together, activated his rooks and pushed the kingside majority. The result was a smooth breakthrough and the first decisive game of their match – a must-win situation for Harikrishna in game two. In the second game, Harikrishna opted for an offbeat Caro-Kann with …Na6 on the third move, likely intending to avoid his opponent’s preparation. The opponents quickly entered unexplored territory and a critical position arose at move 21: Harikrishna quickly played 20…Nd3?, a move which our commentator Peter Leko exclaimed is a good move if it does not lose. Martinez had to see the important move 21.g4! and after 21…Qe4 suddenly 22.Bxf7+ gives White a huge advantage as capturing is not possible due to Ng5. Instead, Martinez played 21.Rad1 and the position became equal once more. In his post-game interview, he acknowledged seeing this line but decided to not enter the complications. Even so, the move g4 was played a few turns later, this time with full effect. Harikrishna erred instantly and Martinez seized a decisive advantage. With everything in hand, Jose chose a threefold repetition to seal the draw and punch his ticket to quarterfinals. In his interview, Martinez issued a spirited challenge to the field: “Those who want to go far in this World Cup have to get through me.” With his confidence and composure, it’s easy to see why he’s becoming one of the breakout names of the tournament. Alexander Donchenko – Lê Quang Liêm The last match of the day to finish briefly seemed like it would actually be the first match to finish after Alexander Donchenko struck first with the black pieces. After yesterday’s tense and heartbreaking draw where one misstep in the endgame
Round 5 Game 2: Chinese momentum, Uzbek steel, and Armenian tragedy in a thrilling day of chess
Round after round, the FIDE World Cup in Goa continues to deliver high-level chess and gripping storylines. Today’s classical games brought a mixture of precise technique, strategic battles, and edge-of-the-seat tension, with several matches heading toward the inevitable tiebreaks. From commanding wins to miraculous escapes, the field once again showcased the depth and fighting spirit of the world’s elite players. It was a difficult day for Armenian chess, marked by the sudden and emotionally heavy exit of two of its most iconic figures. Levon Aronian, once the heartbeat of Armenian teams and now a pillar of American chess, fell after a tense, error-studded battle. Minutes later, Gabriel Sargissian, long admired for his team heroics and impeccable opening preparation, also bowed out after a single, costly misstep. Their simultaneous elimination closed a chapter of resilience and brilliance that has defined Armenian chess for two decades. But if anyone needed a reminder of the steely resolve that made Uzbekistan Olympiad champions, today’s games provided it. Under pressure, under fire, or under the clock, the Uzbek players simply refused to break. Javokhir Sindarov coolly neutralized every attempt to unbalance him, while Nodirbek Yakubboev struck with cold precision to secure his spot in the next stage. Their collective discipline and composure have become one of the defining narratives of the event: unyielding, confident, and remarkably mature for such a young squad. Let’s take a closer look at this afternoon’s action in the Goa Resort Rio. With so much at stake, it was clear from the outset that several matches were destined for the tiebreaks. And indeed, the first two games to finish — just shy of the two-hour mark — were precisely the two I had predicted before the round began. The round was officially opened by GM Humpy Koneru, runner-up of the Women’s World Championship and reigning two-time Women’s World Rapid Champion, who performed the first ceremonial move on Board 3 for former World Rapid Champion GM Daniil Dubov. GM Daniil Dubov’s (2684) classical-game strategy in this event has been remarkably consistent: minimise risk, avoid unnecessary complications, and steer the match toward rapid tiebreaks, where he excels as a former World Rapid Champion. It was therefore no surprise that he opted to reproduce a line from a previous game between GM Sam Shankland (2654) and GM Dmitry Andreikin in the Grünfeld Defence: a highly theoretical path that, with accurate play, leads almost inevitably to a draw. In this variation, Dubov sacrifices a pawn, but with precise moves there is virtually no danger of losing (or winning). A 99% accuracy rate tells the story well enough. I caught up with Shankland as he was leaving the venue. After congratulating him on his performance so far, he referenced that very game against Andreikin: “It’s a dead draw. I think he wants to play the tiebreak.” The second game to finish, also showing an impressive 98% accuracy, was the encounter between GMs Aleksey Grebnev (2611) and Andrey Esipenko (2693). In a fully symmetrical Queen’s Gambit Accepted, neither player was willing to take even the slightest risk, both likely believing they hold the upper hand in the tiebreaks. With two open files on the board, they exchanged rooks on one of them and then repeated moves, reaching the thirty-move mark with most of the pieces still in play. This match has been the most evenly balanced of all eight pairings, and predicting a favourite in the rapid segment feels nearly impossible. It would not be surprising if this one ends up going all the way to blitz before a winner emerges. Over an hour passed before the next result came in. With White, GM Pentala Harikrishna (2697) attempted to press GM José Eduardo Martínez Alcántara (2644) in an offbeat line of the King’s Indian Attack. The former Indian Olympiad team member managed to create a mild pull in the early middlegame, but Martínez Alcántara’s defensive technique was flawless this afternoon. After a series of mass simplifications, the players agreed to a draw on move thirty-five in a level endgame. This tiebreak is also extremely hard to call. Martínez Alcántara is a blitz specialist — his online results rival those of Carlsen and Nakamura — and he currently holds a slightly higher FIDE rapid rating. But Harikrishna’s vast experience and steadiness under pressure mean he will be anything but an easy opponent. Within the space of just ten minutes, the first two decisive results of the day arrived back-to-back and, with them, the elimination of the two Armenian legends still remaining in the event: Levon Aronian (now representing the USA) and Gabriel Sargissian. The clash between heavyweights GMs Levon Aronian (2722) and Arjun Erigaisi (2773) delivered all the excitement one could hope for. The opening and middlegame remained largely balanced, but as the players approached time trouble, the tension rose and the mistakes began to appear. Aronian has just played 33.Qf2–f1, a move that looks perfectly normal at first glance, but a hidden tactical shot was lurking. Erigaisi, likely focused on other strategic ideas, missed the powerful 33…Bxh2!, winning a pawn. The point is revealed after 34.Kxh2 Rxe3! 35.Rxe3 Qf4+, picking up the rook with a winning position. Instead, 33…Re6? was played. Even so, giving a player of Erigaisi’s caliber a second chance is rarely survivable. A few moves later, under increasing pressure, Aronian finally faltered. Here, Aronian needed to play 38.Rf1 to keep the game going. Instead, his fatal 38.Re1?? allowed the crushing response 38…Nh3!, and with it, his elimination. White’s queen is completely overloaded, unable to defend both the rook and the bishop (which is itself guarding against mate on h2). After 39.gxh3 Rxe1 followed by …Qxf3#, or the spectacular 39.Qf1 Nxg1 40.Rxe6 Qh2#, there is no escape. “It was a tough match; at some point, I started regretting some of my moves, and I wasn’t sure about my position. When he offered me a draw, my confidence increased,” Erigaisi explained afterward in his interview with Charlize van Zyl. https://youtu.be/RCkrOP4IAic The second Armenian player to
Round 5 Game 1: Sindarov strikes as giants battle to a standstill in Goa
The atmosphere at the Rio Resort in Goa was electric this afternoon as players returned to the boards for another round of top-level action. The spotlight quickly shifted to Board 2, where Levon Aronian and Arjun Erigaisi delivered one of the most engaging and dynamic games of the day, drawing considerable attention from spectators and commentators alike. The ceremonial first moves were executed by two distinguished guests from the European chess community: Gunnar Björnsson, CEO of the Icelandic Chess Federation and Vice President of the European Chess Union, and Alojzije Janković, also a Vice President of the European Chess Union. Their presence underscored the strong international support and camaraderie surrounding the event. As the pieces were set in motion, anticipation built around whether the sharp tactical exchange between Aronian and Erigaisi would set the tone for the rest of the afternoon. It certainly did – capturing the spirit of competition that has defined this year’s battles in Goa. After around ninety minutes of play, the first result of the afternoon arrived. The Peruvian-Mexican phenomenon, GM José Eduardo Martínez Alcántara (2644), continued his remarkable run by securing a solid draw against India’s GM Pentala Harikrishna (2697). Martínez Alcántara has been producing the tournament of his life. In the previous two rounds, both times with the black pieces, he claimed impressive victories over GMs Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Alexey Sarana, winning the opening game of each match. Today, armed with the white pieces, he entered a deeply theoretical line of the Two Knights Defence, in which White typically gains a pawn at the cost of structural weaknesses and falling behind in development. One of these results came from GM Andrey Esipenko (2693), who, after yesterday’s exhausting tiebreak elimination of tournament favourite Vincent Keymer, opted for a calm and risk-free approach against Aleksey Grebnev (2611). Grebnev himself had just survived a taxing tiebreak against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, making a peaceful outcome mutually understandable. Play followed established theory up to move twenty-five, with at least sixteen moves matching top-level over-the-board or correspondence encounters found in current databases. All known predecessors have ended in draws, including one by GM Javokhir Sindarov, also competing in this Round of 16. Given the speed and confidence with which both players executed their moves, it was evident they were well-prepared and content with a balanced outcome. Harikrishna will enjoy the white pieces in tomorrow’s game, while Martínez Alcántara has already demonstrated lethal form with black, having defeated both his previous opponents from that side of the board. With both players registering 99% accuracy, a peaceful result was practically inevitable, and fully justified. About an hour later, a short burst of activity swept through the playing hall as three games concluded within ten minutes, all ending in solid, uneventful draws. Drawing inspiration from a 2019 encounter in which Esipenko faced GM Rakhmanov (2638), Grebnev arrived fully equipped with home preparation in one of the most solid and respected continuations of the Petrov Defence. Esipenko attempted to sidestep prior theory with a small refinement – 12.Nb5 instead of the more common 12.Bf4 – but Grebnev remained completely unfazed. He rattled off his first twenty moves with confidence, showing no sign of discomfort. With a fully symmetrical pawn structure on the board and no practical prospects for either side to create winning chances, the players agreed to a draw on move thirty-one. Accuracy scores hovering around 95% reflected the clean and disciplined play delivered by both competitors. What awaits tomorrow remains to be seen, but based on today’s balance of power, this match appears a strong candidate to head for tiebreaks, a scenario in which both Esipenko and Grebnev may feel they have realistic chances to outplay the other. In a symmetrical variation of the English Opening, GM Alexander Donchenko (2641) and GM Lê Quang Liêm(2729) contested a strategically rich, though ultimately balanced, encounter. While the final accuracy scores, an impressive 98% for both players, might suggest a quiet affair, the game was anything but effortless. Both grandmasters invested significant time at key moments, carefully navigating the subtle nuances of the position. One of the most intriguing moments arose just out of the opening. Holding an extra pawn, Donchenko had the tempting option of 18.axb6 axb6 19.Rfc1, but this line allowed Black dynamic possibilities such as 19…Nc4, granting Lê Quang Liêm sufficient counterplay to maintain equilibrium. Recognizing the latent danger, and after deliberating for just over ten minutes, Donchenko chose the prudent path with 18.Qc2, returning the pawn and steering the game toward safety. From that moment, the position began to simplify naturally. Forced sequences followed, exchanges swept pieces off the board, and the game peacefully concluded with a draw on move thirty-one. A clean and professional display from both sides, the game exemplified the high level of precision that has come to define this stage of the tournament. Before the round began, I found myself—as I often do—chatting with fellow specialists while surveying the match-ups from a distance. Theo from Lichess and Shahid from ChessBase India are two of my usual companions in these pre-game exchanges. As we compared notes, Shahid and I agreed that the encounter between GM Gabriel Sargissian (2624) and GM Nodirbek Yakubboev (2689) was as close to a 50/50 toss-up as one could get. Although Yakubboev holds the higher rating on paper, Sargissian’s reputation as a rock-solid competitor, especially with the White pieces, made the prediction far from straightforward. Today’s clash, a pristine 99% accuracy effort by both players, once again highlighted the immense depth and technical discipline of these two grandmasters: no mistakes, no inaccuracies, simply a flawless game. Sargissian repeated his trusted Catalan, but was unable to carve out any meaningful edge from the opening. He ventured into a line that momentarily sacrifices a pawn in pursuit of active piece play, yet Yakubboev calmly returned the material, opting instead to secure a superior pawn structure. Subsequent simplifications flowed naturally, and with the position fully equalized, and both players still holding more than twenty-five minutes on their
Shockwaves in Goa: Dubov, Shankland, and the day of “giant killers”
The fourth round of the FIDE World Cup in Goa ended with one of the most intense and dramatic tiebreak sessions of the event so far. Eleven matches returned to the playing hall this afternoon, with players battling it out across multiple time controls, from rapid to blitz and even Armageddon, to determine who would advance to the coveted round of sixteen. From the very start, it was clear that this would be a day of upsets and surprises. Several top seeds were eliminated, including multiple +2700-rated players, as underdogs seized their chances in rapid and blitz play. Experience, stamina, and nerves of steel became as crucial as opening preparation, as every mistake carried immediate consequences. By the end of the session, the field had been cut in half once again, revealing a captivating mix of established stars and fearless young talents. With just sixteen players remaining, the World Cup is entering its decisive phase, and the fight for the title, and for the coveted Candidates spots, is more open than ever. The round was opened by IA Dharmendra Kumar, President of the South Asian Chess Council and Chair of the 2025 FIDE World Cup Appeals Committee. He played 1.e4 for Peter Leko on board two. Quite surprisingly, no fewer than eight of the eleven tiebreak matches were decided in the very first section of the afternoon, consisting of two 15-minute games with a 10-second increment. The first player to qualify for the round of sixteen and the biggest surprise of the day was GM Aleksey Grebnev (2611), who eliminated one of the pre-tournament favourites, GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2737). Known for his deep opening preparation and sharp tactical vision, Grebnev recently won the 2025 Dubai Open, a strong international event featuring several elite grandmasters, proving he is no stranger to facing world-class opposition. Although Vachier-Lagrave is a renowned specialist in blitz and rapid chess, Grebnev seized his chances brilliantly, winning the first game with White and then steering the second into a well-known theoretical draw to clinch the match. The key moment came in the first game: Despite being under pressure in a difficult endgame, the Frenchman still had drawing chances, but in time trouble he blundered with 47…Nd5+? (the correct move was 47…b5, with approximate equality). After 48.Kd4! b5 49.Bh6!, Black was suddenly lost due to the unstoppable threat of Bf8, which wins material. Soon after, another of the 2700+ favourites fell. GM Richard Rapport (2724) will have to wait another two years for another shot at the title, after losing both rapid tiebreak games to GM Sam Shankland (2654). A cornerstone of American chess for over a decade, known for his disciplined preparation and exceptional endgame technique, Shankland opted for the solid Caro–Kann Defence to neutralize Rapport’s creative initiative in the first game. The strategy paid off perfectly when the Hungarian number one faltered in the late middlegame. https://youtu.be/lbp_Yg4vY0Y “I wasn’t very optimistic going into the tiebreak. In classical, it hasn’t gone too badly, but in rapid, he’s clobbered me before,” Shankland admitted in his post-game interview. This time, however, he turned the tables convincingly. In the second game, Rapport’s decision to employ the Pirc Modern Defence backfired spectacularly, as he soon found himself in a cramped, passive position, and Shankland efficiently converted the advantage, sealing the match with a 25-move miniature. GM Nils Grandelius (2645) will also be leaving Goa tomorrow, eliminated by GM Pentala Harikrishna (2697). The long-time Swedish number one, celebrated for his deep opening preparation and creative ideas, came up short in the first game, letting his opponent off the hook at a critical moment. With the psychological edge on his side, the player from Andhra Pradesh, renowned for his strategic depth and superb endgame technique, displayed his full class in the second encounter. Harikrishna crafted a strategic masterpiece, patiently outmanoeuvring his opponent to secure victory and advance to Round Five. By winning the first game and comfortably drawing the second, accepting a repetition in a completely winning position, GM Frederik Svane (2638) secured his spot in the round of sixteen, joining his compatriot Alexander Donchenko and confirming the impressive depth of the younger German generation. His opponent, GM Shant Sargsyan (2667) of Armenia, was unable to recover after losing the first game. The key moment came on move thirty: White’s control of the d-file and pressure on the e5-pawn promised a lasting edge. However, after 30…Ne6! 31.Nxe5 Qg5! 32.Qxg5 Nxg5, Black would still have had reasonable drawing chances. Instead, short on time, Sargsyan spent two of his last three minutes to play 30…f6?, fatally weakening his kingside. Svane immediately seized the moment with 31.Nh4!, launching a decisive attack. Notably, Black could no longer contest the d-file with 31…Rad8, as 32.Nf5! wins material after 32…Qc7 33.Rxd8 Rxd8 34.Rxd8 Rxd8 35.Qa7, picking up at least a pawn. Despite determined resistance, the Armenian grandmaster could not save the game. GM Daniil Dubov (2684) produced one of the major upsets of the day, eliminating the 2023 Baku finalist and Indian hero GM Praggnanandhaa R (2771). Continuing the same pragmatic approach that has served him well in earlier tiebreaks, Dubov offered an early 12-move draw with the White pieces, effectively shifting the pressure onto his opponent to create winning chances in the second game. In his post-game interview with FIDE’s WIM Charlize van Zyl, Dubov explained his rationale: “Against players so good that I can’t really get an advantage in the opening, my strategy is to make a draw with White and get a game with Black.” And once again, his plan worked perfectly. In the diagrammed position, with both players down to their final minute, Praggnanandhaa erred with 35.Bxd5?, allowing 35…exf2+ 36.Qxf2 Bb6!, after which the Indian grandmaster was unable to defend against the threats along the long diagonal. “I don’t think he showed his best in this tournament, but even so, it was very close,” Dubov reflected after the game. https://youtu.be/K0r3Tyz2TWk With each round that passes, GM Arjun Erigaisi (2773) looks increasingly likely to secure