The Semifinals of the 2025 FIDE World Cup will be decided in tiebreaks after the second classical games both ended in draws. GM Andrey Esipenko tried to massage a risk-free edge against GM Wei Yi‘s Petroff, while GM Javokhir Sindarov took an early draw against GM Nodirbek Yakubboev. There must be winners on Sunday, with the prize both a place in the final and qualification for the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament.
The semifinal tiebreaks will be on Sunday, November 23, starting at 4:30 a.m. ET / 10:30 CET / 3 p.m. IST.
This is a flash report—come back later for full coverage of the day’s action!
2025 FIDE World Cup Bracket
For a second day in a row both classical games were drawn, with the matches tied 1-1 and heading for tiebreaks on Sunday.
Our Game of the Day is Esipenko-Wei Yi, a tense clash where Esipenko pushed with the white pieces while Wei defended carefully. GM Dejan Bojkov will analyze the game below.
You can watch the event on Chess.com/TV. You can also enjoy the show on Chess24, on Twitch, or YouTube. Games from the event can be viewed on our events page.
The 2025 FIDE World Cup, which takes place from November 1 to 26 in Goa, India, determines three spots in the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament. It is a 206-player single-elimination knockout tournament with eight rounds. Each match consists of two classical games followed by rapid and blitz tiebreaks if needed. The prize fund is $2 million.
Previous reports:
- Semifinals Game 1: Wei Yi Escapes In Style Vs. Esipenko As World Cup Semifinals Begin
- Quarterfinals Tiebreaks: Wei Yi Knocks Out Arjun, Advances With Sindarov, Esipenko
- Quarterfinals Game 2: Yakubboev Advances, Wei Yi Survives Vs. Arjun
- Quarterfinals Game 1: Yakubboev Draws 1st Blood, Crosses 2700 Live Rating
- Round 5 Tiebreaks: Shankland, Esipenko, Martinez, Donchenko Reach World Cup Quarterfinals
- Round 5 Game 2: Arjun Beats Aronian To Reach World Cup Quarterfinals
- Round 5 Game 1: 19-Year-Old Sindarov Grabs Only Win
- Round 4 Tiebreaks: Arjun Strides On As Pragg, Keymer, MVL, Rapport Lead World Cup Exodus
- Round 4 Game 2: Donchenko, Martinez Continue Giant-Killing As 11 Matches Go To TiebreaksÂ
- Round 4 Game 1: Aronian, Martinez Strike As Praggnanandhaa Escapes Vs. Dubov
- Round 3 Tiebreaks: Vachier-Lagrave Wins Marathon Match In Armageddon
- Round 3 Game 2: World Champion Gukesh Eliminated By Frederik Svane; Giri, Abdusattorov Also Out
- Round 3 Game 1: Martinez Upsets Abdusattorov With Black Pieces
- Round 2 Tiebreaks: Lodici Knocks Out Niemann, Rasmus Svane Wins In Armageddon
- Round 2 Game 2: Harikrishna Sacs Queen; Nepomniachtchi, Wesley So, Aravindh Eliminated
- Round 2 Game 1: Arjun, Keymer, Wei, Mamedyarov, Vachier-Lagrave Among Early Leaders
- Round 1 Tiebreaks: 12-Year-Old Oro Among 20 Winners In Tiebreaks
- Round 1 Game 2: IM Shixu Wang Pulls Upset, 20 Matches Go To Tiebreaks
- Round 1 Game 1: Saleh Plays Attack Of The Day, Favorites Prevail In Game 1
- 2025 FIDE World Cup Pairings, Venue Revealed
- Divya Among 6 Players Awarded World Cup Wildcard Spots; Firouzja Not In
