Chinese grandmaster Wei Yi reached the final of the Men’s Chess World Cup in Goa, India, after edging Andrey Esipenko in rapid tiebreaks. This result also books Wei a spot in the 2026 World Championship Candidates Tournament.
After two evenly fought classical games ended in draws, the semifinal showdown shifted to rapid play. Wei, playing with the black pieces, held Esipenko in the first game before seizing the second encounter with white in a marathon 57-move duel.
The defining moment came in the second tiebreak: Esipenko appeared to have the game in hand, up two pawns and heading for victory in a rook-and-knight endgame. However, a crucial defensive miscalculation left his rook en prise, handing Wei a decisive material advantage and ultimately the match.
Wei joins Ding Liren as the only players from the Chinese mainland to reach a Men’s World Cup final, and becomes the third from the region—alongside Ding and Wang Hao—to qualify for the Candidates. The rising star now prepares to face Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov in the final, which begins today, November 24, and runs through November 26.
This clash not only highlights Wei’s resilience under pressure but also underscores a new wave of talent shaping the global chess scene. Fans worldwide can follow the final live as these two young contenders vie for the title and a deeper move in the race to the world championship.
Reference(s):
China's Wei edges Esipenko to reach final at Chess World Cup in India
cgtn.com
