Chess in Goa never looked this epic! 🌴♟️ On Nov 23 in the Indian city of Goa, China’s Wei Yi booked his spot in the Men's Chess World Cup final after a jaw-dropping semifinal against Russia’s Andrey Esipenko. Not only does he clash with Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov in the final (Nov 24–26), but he’s also secured a place in next year’s World Championship Candidates Tournament. 🎉
After two tense classical draws, they switched to rapid tiebreaks—imagine blitz mode in your favorite mobile game! Wei held his ground as Black, then in a 57-move white-piece battle, pulled off a comeback that had everyone gasping. 😲 Esipenko was up two pawns and seemed set for victory, but a crucial miscalculation under time pressure turned the tables. Talk about clutch moments!⚡
Wei Yi becomes just the second player from China to reach a Men's Chess World Cup final after Ding Liren (runner-up in 2017 & 2019), and the third to qualify for the Candidates, joining Ding and Wang Hao. History in the making!🔥
All eyes are now on the final showdown: Wei Yi vs Javokhir Sindarov, Nov 24–26. Will Wei seal the deal or will Sindarov pull an upset? Get your chess sets ready and catch the action live! 🎥♟️
Pro tip for all aspiring grandmasters: mix solid study routines with fun rapid games online—whether it’s on Chess.com or Lichess, those quick matches sharpen your instincts for big moments. Keep grinding, keep winning! 🚀
Reference(s):
China's Wei edges Esipenko to reach final at Chess World Cup in India
cgtn.com
