Sindarov and Wei Yi reach FIDE World Cup final, secure Candidates spots

Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov and China’s Wei Yi advanced to the FIDE World Cup final after winning their semifinals in rapid tiebreaks. Both secured Candidates spots, while Nodirbek Yakubboev and Andrey Esipenko will contest for the third and final berth

Hyderabad: Uzbekistan’s GM Javokhir Sindarov and GM Wei Yi of China will face off in the final of the FIDE World Cup after winning their respective semifinals via the tiebreak and also confirming their Candidates spot in Panaji on Sunday.

Both classical games in the two semifinals ended in draws, which meant the rapid skills of all the players were tested in the tiebreak.

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Sindarov, who had ended the dream run of GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara in the quarterfinals, put himself in the driver’s seat to advance when he defeated Nodirbek Yakubboev in the first rapid game with black pieces.

The 19-year-old forced Nodirbek to resign after 47 moves as he almost converted his c-file pawn into a queen in a rook-pawn ending. He then comfortably drew the second game with white pieces in another rook-pawn ending, despite his opponent trying to push for a win over 54 moves.

In the second semifinal, Wei once again showed his command in the rapid games as he drew the first game with black pieces and then defeated GM Andrey Esipenko in 57 moves with white pieces.

Wei, the highest-ranked player left in the tournament, was clearly in trouble after move 55 as Esipenko had two more pawns in a rook-knight endgame. But the Russian Grandmaster missed defending his rook a couple of moves earlier to gain material advantage.

Speaking about his win, Wei Yi said: “Biggest achievement of my chess career. I am very happy about it. I don’t know what would be the result today but I wanted to give my best. In the final position in the second game, my opponent blundered a rook. Otherwise, black could have played for a win and I would have had to play for a draw. This is a long tournament and maybe he was tired.”

Sindarov and Wei will now play to decide who takes home the Viswanathan Anand Cup, while Nodirbek and Esipenko will face off for the third and final Candidates spot.

Results: Semifinals: GM Javokhir Sindarov (UZB) bt GM Nodirbek Yakubboev (UZB) (2.5:1.5 aggregate); GM Wei Yi (China) bt GM Andrey Esipenko (FIDE) (2.5:1.5 aggregate).