"VAN" (Sports Desk - 26.11.2025) :: What a day at the FIDE World Cup finals. The players entered with very different levels of pressure. On one side, Javokhir Sindarov and Wei Yi faced far less tension, with the high likelihood of a draw sending their match to tiebreaks, a recurring pattern throughout this event. That is exactly what happened, as the game concluded within thirty minutes. On the other board, Nodirbek Yakubboev was in a must-win situation to level the match and keep his chances alive in the tiebreaks. Perhaps, nerves weighed heavily on the young Uzbek player, as he faltered early and allowed Andrey Esipenko to take control and secure victory.
The first move was made by another local sporting icon, Ms. Saina Nehwal, Olympic bronze medalist in badminton, setting an inspiring tone for the day.
Let’s take a look at the game for third place, and then a closer look at the contenders for first:
Round 8 Game 2 results:
Nodirbek Yakubboev 0–1 Andrey Esipenko
Wei Yi ½–½ Javokhir Sindarov
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