Chinese GM Wei Yi
PANAJI
Seventh seed, Chinese GM Wei Yi is just a step closer to a Candidates 2026 qualification by outwitting his second seeded Indian rival, Arjun Erigaisi in the quarterfinal tiebreaks for a spot in the semifinals at the FIDE World Cup 2025 on Wednesday.
But the Chinese number 1 GM is not looking too far ahead. “As usual, I will try my best. I do not care too much about the results. I like to keep my focus on the game,” he told the media after his win. Maintain focus he did, and to break the hearts of the Indian chess fans too. In the 15’+10” rapid tiebreaks, he first drew with Erigaisi with white pieces, and then with black checkmated his adversary for a 2.5:1.5 result in his favour.
While acknowledging Arjun Erigaisi as a very strong player, mindful that the Indian GM had the better of him in Rapid chess earlier in the year at Norway Chess, Wei Yi clearly proved his general superiority in the shorter time control on the day.
“In today’s tiebreaks, in the first game I had many chances, both in the middle game and end game, yet I did not find a way to win. In the second game, I think he (Arjun) wanted to win but he took some risks and I realised I had some good chances to try and win,” stated the Chinese GM.
While he may have realised his chances were bright to win in the first game itself, Wei Yi did not let it affect his mindset for the reverse fixture. “I told myself not to think about the first game, forget it and it does work,” the World No.4 Rapid chess player reasoned.
Incidentally, Wei Yi prepared for the high-profile single-elimination tournament in Goa with an intense training camp organized by the Chinese Chess Association back home. “The training camp we had included many Chinese grandmasters to prepare us for the Chess World Cup and proved helpful in keeping us in good shape,” he asserted.
The Chinese GM will now take on GM Andrey Esipenko (FID) in the semifinals starting on Friday.
