Top five players who impressed at FIDE Chess World Cup 2025

19-year-old Javokhir Sindarov won the FIDE World Cup 2025 defeating Wei Yi.

The FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 concluded at the Resort Rio in North Goa on Thursday, November 26. It provided an opportunity to the top three finishers to earn a place at the Candidates 2026. Javokhir Sindarov, Wei Yi and Andrey Esipenko emerged as the finest performers of the marquee event.

Interestingly, hosts India fielded 24-member contingent for the tournament, but none of them made it past the quarter-final stage. Arjun Erigaisi’s 1.5-2.5 loss against Yi in the top eight clash ended India’s campaign.

Nevertheless, the FIDE Chess World Cup witnessed the players demonstrating ice-cold nerves, as the majority of the games went down to the wire. Some players successfully overcame the challenge to have a deeper run in the tournament.

Also Read: FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 Payouts: How much did Indian chess players earn in prize money?

The closing ceremony of the 2025 FIDE World Cup was hosted in the playing hall at Resort Rio this evening, bringing to an end nearly a month of elite chess and marking the final chapter of one of the world’s most demanding knockout events.The hall was filled with players,… pic.twitter.com/7ikdUWm1K4

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) November 26, 2025

Best performers at FIDE World Cup 2025

#5 Jose Martinez Alcantara

Mexico’s Jose Martinez Alcántara opened his campaign with a 2-0 victory over South Korea’s Isaak Huh. He then secured four impressive victories to book a clash with India’s Pentala Harikrishna in the fifth round.

With a 3.5-2.5 victory against Harikrishna, he qualified for the quarter-final. Although, Alcántara produced an impressive performance against eventual winner, Javokhir Sindarov, he lost with an aggregate score of 2.5-3.5.

#4 Nodirbek Yakubboev

After receiving a bye in the first round, Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Yakubboev kicked off the tournament with a 1.5-0.5 win against Niclas Huschenbeth. After dominating his opponents easily in the subsequent rounds, Yakubboev secured a 1.5-0.5 win against Alexander Donchenko.

The semi-finals witnessed an all-Uzbek clash between him and Javokhir Sindarov. After both classical games ended in a draw, Sindarov was the winner with an aggregate score of 2.5-1.5.

#3 Andrey Esipenko

Russia’s Andrey Esipenko opened up his FIDE Chess World Cup campaign with a 2-0 victory against Azerbaijan’s Nijat Abasov. The next rounds saw him being completely dominant and cruising through the quarter-finals.

Then, Esipenko completed a 4-2 win over USA’s Sam Shankland to progress to the semi-finals. His top four clash against Wei Yi was a toughly-contested affair, as both classical games ended in a draw. He eventually sustained a 2.5-1.5 loss in the tiebreaks.

However, Andrey Esipenko qualified for the Candidates 2026 after beating Nodirbek Yakubboev 2-0 in the third place playoff game.

Also Read: Which players earned spots to Candidates 2026 through FIDE Chess World Cup?

#2 Wei Yi

By virtue of his impressive world rank of 11, Wei Yi received a bye in the first round. He prevailed 2-0 over Poland’s Kacper Piorun in the second round to get things going.

The consistent showing helped him book a top-eight clash against India’s Arjun Erigaisi, whom he beat 2.5-1.5 in the tiebreaks. Then, he clinched a 2.5-1.5 victory in the tiebreaks in his semi-final game against Andrey Esipenko after both classical games ended in draws.

In the final, Javokhir Sindarov beat him with an aggregate score of 2.5-1.5 in the tiebreaks, as Wei Yi emerged as the runner-up.

A beautiful end to an unforgettable month in Goa.The FIDE World Cup concluded with a warm and celebratory closing ceremony.📷 Michał Walusza#FIDEWorldCup #Goa pic.twitter.com/6EUD9Kby1i

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) November 26, 2025

#1 Javokhir Sindarov

Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov will have a tournament to remember for a long time. After a bye in the first round, Sindarov outclassed Nikita Petrov 1.5-0.5 to open his campaign in the World Cup.

After beating opponents in the next three rounds, he clashed against Mexico’s José Martínez Alcántara, whom he beat with an aggregate score of 3.5-2.5 in the quarterfinal.

In the semi-final, the 19-year-old maintained calmness under pressure to win the tiebreaks with a score of 2.5-0.5 against Nodirbek Yakubboev.

After both classical games of the final were drawn, Javokhir Sindarov secured a terrific 2.5-1.5 victory in the tiebreaks over Wei Yi to win the tournament.

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