The FIDE World Cup 2025 was played as a single-elimination knock-out tournament and witnessed 206 players from 82 countries aiming for glory in a competition and also three spots in the Candidates 2026.

FIDE World Cup 2025: Javokhir Sindarov crowned champion after tense tiebreak against Wei Yi

Abhinav Bindra, who bagged the 10m Air Rifle gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and gave every Indian sportsperson the belief that they can also aim for world glory, was in Goa to witness some top-quality chess action.

Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra takes a shot at chess at the FIDE World Cup

In the third-place play-off, GM Nodirbek Yakubboev opted for the Sicilian defence and had to dig himself out of a hole in the middle game.

FIDE World Cup 2025: Wei Yi holds Sindarov with black in first game of final; Esipenko beats Yakubboev

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

FIDE World Cup 2025: Javokhir Sindarov, Wei Yi seal Candidates spot after winning respective semifinals

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

FIDE World Cup 2025: First game of Wei Yi-Esipenko, Nodirbek-Sindarov semifinals end in a draw

Having played a quick draw with black on Monday, Arjun Erigaisi expectedly looked for a win with white and it looked like the highest ranked player left in the competition had gained an upper hand in the middle game.

FIDE World Cup 2025: Arjun Erigaisi, Wei Yi quarters heads to tiebreak; Nodirbek Abdusattorov seals semis spot

Chess Olympiad: India's D Gukesh beats Wei Yi in marathon battle after China rested world champion Ding Liren

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FIDE World Cup 2025: Javokhir Sindarov crowned champion after tense tiebreak against Wei Yi

Abhinav Bindra takes a shot at chess at the FIDE World Cup 2025

FIDE World Cup 2025: Wei Yi holds Sindarov with black in first game of final

FIDE WC 25: Sindarov, Wei Yi seal Candidates spot after winning respective semis

FIDE WC: First game of Wei Yi-Esipenko, Nodirbek-Sindarov semis ends in draw

FIDE World Cup 2025: Arjun Erigaisi, Wei Yi quarters heads to tiebreak

Chess Olympiad: India's D Gukesh beats Wei Yi in marathon battle after China rested world champion Ding Liren