A Wild Day in FIDE World Cup: Esipenko’s Blunder Sends Wei Yi to Candidates 2026

The FIDE World Cup 2025 semifinals in Goa gave us a day of pure drama — the kind of day that reminds you why knockout chess is so unforgiving. The biggest shock came in the rapid tiebreak between Wei Yi and Andrey Esipenko. Four young stars entered the semifinals, all knowing that only three would qualify for the 2026 Candidates Tournament. The margins could not have been thinner.

The position was promising for Esipenko, who had Black and a comfortable advantage. With 20 seconds left on his clock (plus a 10-second increment), all he needed was clarity and calm. But after days of high-intensity classical and rapid play, even the strongest players can crumble under pressure.

Wei Yi, down to 19 seconds himself, attacked Esipenko’s rook on g2. And in a moment that will be replayed for years, Esipenko pushed his pawn to c6 instead of moving the rook. The rook was simply left hanging. A full piece blunder — instantly decisive.

You could see in Esipenko’s face how tired and stressed he was. The position, the clock, the stakes — everything collided in one split-second lapse. Wei Yi converted without trouble and advanced to the World Cup Final, securing his spot in the 2026 Candidates.

Sindarov Joins Wei Yi in the Final

In the other semifinal, Javokhir Sindarov defeated compatriot Nodirbek Yakubboev to book his place in the final. Sindarov has been one of the most impressive players of the tournament, and his win today means he, too, has officially qualified for the 2026 Candidates.

So tomorrow’s final — Wei Yi vs. Javokhir Sindarov — is still prestigious and historic, but both finalists have already achieved the biggest prize: a place in the Candidates.

One Ticket Left: Esipenko vs. Yakubboev for the Final Candidates Spot

With Wei Yi and Sindarov through, the Candidates race now comes down to one brutal match:

Andrey Esipenko vs. Nodirbek Yakubboev

The winner takes the final Candidates spot.

For Esipenko, this is a chance at redemption after today’s heartbreaking blunder. For Yakubboev, it’s a chance to keep Uzbekistan’s momentum alive — the country already has Sindarov in the Candidates.

Four Players, Three Spots, One Brutal Day in Goa

The semifinals featured four elite young stars — Wei Yi, Sindarov, Esipenko, and Yakubboev — battling for just three golden tickets to the Candidates. And today reminded us that chess at this level is as much about resilience and nerves as it is about preparation and calculation.

Tomorrow’s matches in Goa promise even more drama. And after the chaos of today, there is no predicting what comes next.