Wei Yi and Yakubboev held to draws in FIDE World Cup semis

The FIDE World Cup 2025 semi-finals in Hyderabad ended in draws, with Wei Yi held by Andrey Esipenko and Nodirbek Yakubboev splitting points with Javokhir Sindarov. Wei’s three-pronged attack was neutralised as Esipenko forced a pawn endgame

Hyderabad: China’s GM Wei Yi and Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Yakubboev could not breach the defences of their respective opponents with white pieces as both semi-finals of the FIDE World Cup 2025 ended in draws here on Friday.

Nodirbek signed the truce with compatriot GM Javokhir Sindarov immediately after the mandatory 30 moves, while Wei Yi and GM Andrey Esipenko had their chances but could not convert, eventually splitting the point after 33 moves.

---

Wei Yi, who had defeated India’s best hope GM Arjun Erigaisi in the quarterfinals, faced a rare variation of the French Defence from Esipenko and, just like in the quarterfinals, enjoyed some early advantage.

To Esipenko’s credit, the Russian-born Grandmaster equalised the position well, and it looked like the Chinese player was coming under time pressure.

Wei managed to set up a three-pronged attack with a rook, bishop and queen, only for Esipenko to respond with a perfect defensive move that steered the game towards a pawn endgame, where the two players agreed to a draw.