Russian GM lets advantage slip; Sindarov outplays Yakubboev
Chinese GM Wei Yi advanced to the final as Russian GM Andrey Esipenko made a late blunder in the second round.
PANAJI
A most unlikely move can sometimes lead to an improbable outcome. And that was precisely what happened in the GM Wei Yi (China) versus GM Andrey Esipenko (Russia) reverse fixture in the first set of rapid tie-breaks in the semi-finals of the FIDE World Cup 2025 in Arpora on Sunday.
The 23-year-old GM Esipenko did well to hold the seasoned Chinese number 1 Wei Yi to a 36-move truce with white pieces in the Petrov’s Defense with his opponent in a better position in the first game. With the change of colours and adopting the Italian Game: Classical Variation, Esipenko looked to take the contest deep. In the endgame, the Russian looked to seize the initiative as Wei Yi began to falter under time pressure. A couple of inaccuracies by the 26-year-old Chinese GM and down two pawns, weighed the odds in favour of Esipenko in sealing the deal. But as often as his good friend, wriggling out of tight situations, Wei Yi found succour. With both players under a minute shy on the clock, it was all about who held their nerve better. And that proved decisive. Playing c6 on the 56th move crushed the clear winning sequence of play for Esipenko. Leaving his rook on g2 undefended by the threat of Wei’s knight did not go unnoticed. And the 7th-seeded Chinese dealt the fatal blow, a move later to seal his spot in the final, and the Candidates as well.
Speaking to the media after the win, Wei Yi stated, “This is one of the biggest glories of my chess career. I did not expect it. I was so lucky in this tournament. I did not know what the result would be, I just wanted to try my best. In Game 2, in the final position, my opponent just blundered the rook. Until then, he could play for the win, and I could only fight for a draw. It is a long tournament; he was tiring, and that is why he blundered.”
Joining him across the board in the final and the Candidates as well would be the tenacious 19-year-old Uzbek GM Javokhir Sindarov, who outwitted his compatriot GM Nodirbek Yakubboev in the other semi-final tiebreak clash. Playing with white in the first game, Yakubboev engaged in a Semi-Slav Defense with Sindarov. As the game progressed into the middle game, and Sindarov began to press, Yakubboev looked unsettled. A couple of weak plays within the next few moves by Yakubboev, and Sindarov was clearly on top. In the rook-pawn ending, the impending c-pawn advance of Sindarov towards the top rank, meant his compatriot was forced to resign after 47 moves. In a must-win situation with black, Yakubboev thought smart to choose the Najdorf Variation in the Sicilian Defense. Justifying his decision, Sindarov looked tempted to go all out. The Uzbek number 2 Sindarov spent a good nine minutes to produce f4 on his 12th play. A move that gave reason he was in for a dynamic game. In the ensuing chaos to control the game, Yakkuboev got himself into big trouble early, but midway through the game balanced out. With time running out and a push for a win now or never, it was inevitable that Yakkuboev had to take some chances. But Sindarov stayed firm in defence in another rook and pawn endgame. The inevitable draw was agreed upon after white’s 54th move.
While Wei Yi and Javokhir Sindarov will play in a generational clash for top honours starting Monday, Andrey Esipenko and Nodirbek Yakubboev will fight for the third Candidate spot from the FIDE World Cup.
