Chinese GM Wei Yi: Chinese GM Wei Yi played another solid game with black pieces to hold GM Javokhir Sindarov to a draw in the opening game of the FIDE World Cup 2025 final, while GM Andrey Esipenko defeated GM Nodirbek Yakubboev in the third-place match in Panaji, Goa, on Monday.
In the first game of the final, Wei once again opted for the Petrov Defence with black and made Sindarov take risks to look for a win.
And Wei’s plan almost worked as the Chinese was in a slightly stronger position in the bishop-pawn endgame. But Sindarov was alert to the challenges posed by his opponent, and the two players agreed to a draw after 50 moves. Wei Yi has reached the final after beating, among others, India's top contender Arjun Erigaisi in the quarterfinals. Two other Indian contenders, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and Pentala Harikrishna, also went out earlier than expected.
