FIDE World Cup 2025: Arjun Erigaisi’s Quarterfinal clash against Wei Yi heads to a tiebreak after draw in second game

Alex is web content writer who is covering various sports, technology in sports and igaming space from 2017.

Published at :November 18, 2025 at 9:54 PM

Modified at :November 18, 2025 at 9:55 PM

FIDE World Cup 2025: Arjun Erigaisi’s Quarterfinal clash against Wei Yi heads to a tiebreak after draw in game 2 Having played a quick draw with black on Monday, Arjun 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. At that stage, the chess engines were suggesting a bishop sacrifice as the top move to drive home the advantage but Arjun went with a relatively steady queen to d2 and Wei then defended well to ensure that there was no other result possible. Arjun will begin the tiebreak with black pieces on Wednesday and should be the favourite to advance in the rapid format. Two more quarterfinals will head to the tiebreak as GM GM Andrey Esipenko split the point against GM Sam Shankland after 37 moves while the match between GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara and GM Javokhir Sindarov ended after just 25 moves with the game lasting just 18 minutes. Uzbekistan's GM Nodirbek Yakubboev was the only player to advance to the semi-finals after the two classical games as he drew the second game against GM Alexander Donchenko of Germany in 57 moves. Nordirbek had won the first game with white pieces. Results: GM Andrey Esipenko drew with GM Sam Shankland (1:1 aggregate) GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara vs GM Javokhir Sindarov (1:1 aggregate) GM Arjun Erigaisi drew with GM Wei Yi (1:1 aggregate) GM Alexander Donchenko lost to GM Nodirbek Yakubboev (0.5:1.5 aggregate) What was the result of the second classical game between GM Arjun Erigaisi and GM Wei Yi?The second game ended in a draw, sending their FIDE World Cup 2025 quarterfinal match to a tiebreak.Why couldn’t Arjun convert his advantage in the middle game?Although Arjun had a promising position, he missed the engine-recommended bishop sacrifice and chose a safer move (Qd2), allowing Wei Yi to defend accurately.When will the tiebreak between Arjun Erigaisi and Wei Yi take place?The tiebreak will be played on Wednesday, with Arjun starting with the black pieces.Which quarterfinal match has already demonstrated a semifinalist?Uzbekistan’s GM Nodirbek Yakubboev became the only player to reach the semifinals outright after defeating GM Alexander Donchenko 1.5–0.5.How many quarterfinal matches are heading to tiebreaks?Three matches: Esipenko vs Shankland, Martinez Alcantara vs Sindarov, and Erigaisi vs Wei Yi are heading to tiebreaks.

(Courtesy : Michal Walusza-FIDE)

Uzbekistan’s GM Nodirbek Yakubboev was the only quarterfinalist to reach semifinals directly.

GM Arjun Erigaisi could not convert his advantage in the middle game and had to settle for a draw in the second game against GM Wei Yi as their FIDE World Cup 2025 quarterfinal heads to a tiebreak.

Having played a quick draw with black on Monday, Arjun 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.

At that stage, the chess engines were suggesting a bishop sacrifice as the top move to drive home the advantage but Arjun went with a relatively steady queen to d2 and Wei then defended well to ensure that there was no other result possible.

The ceremonial first move for Quarterfinals Game 2 was made by Mr. Anurag Singh Thakur — Former Sports Minister of India, Member of Parliament, and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Coal and Mines — on Board 2 of 🇮🇳 Arjun Erigaisi vs 🇨🇳 Wei Yi.#FIDEWorldCup… pic.twitter.com/lIr9Kki0EP
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) November 18, 2025

Arjun will begin the tiebreak with black pieces on Wednesday and should be the favourite to advance in the rapid format.

Two more quarterfinals will head to the tiebreak as GM GM Andrey Esipenko split the point against GM Sam Shankland after 37 moves while the match between GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara and GM Javokhir Sindarov ended after just 25 moves with the game lasting just 18 minutes.

Also Read: FIDE World Cup 2025: Arjun Erigaisi keeps India’s title hope alive with draw against Wei Yi in quarter-final game 1

Uzbekistan’s GM Nodirbek Yakubboev was the only player to advance to the semi-finals after the two classical games as he drew the second game against GM Alexander Donchenko of Germany in 57 moves. Nordirbek had won the first game with white pieces.

Results:

GM Andrey Esipenko drew with GM Sam Shankland (1:1 aggregate)

GM Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara vs GM Javokhir Sindarov (1:1 aggregate)

GM Arjun Erigaisi drew with GM Wei Yi (1:1 aggregate)

GM Alexander Donchenko lost to GM Nodirbek Yakubboev (0.5:1.5 aggregate)

What was the result of the second classical game between GM Arjun Erigaisi and GM Wei Yi?

The second game ended in a draw, sending their FIDE World Cup 2025 quarterfinal match to a tiebreak.

Why couldn’t Arjun convert his advantage in the middle game?

Although Arjun had a promising position, he missed the engine-recommended bishop sacrifice and chose a safer move (Qd2), allowing Wei Yi to defend accurately.

When will the tiebreak between Arjun Erigaisi and Wei Yi take place?

The tiebreak will be played on Wednesday, with Arjun starting with the black pieces.

Which quarterfinal match has already demonstrated a semifinalist?

Uzbekistan’s GM Nodirbek Yakubboev became the only player to reach the semifinals outright after defeating GM Alexander Donchenko 1.5–0.5.

How many quarterfinal matches are heading to tiebreaks?

Three matches: Esipenko vs Shankland, Martinez Alcantara vs Sindarov, and Erigaisi vs Wei Yi are heading to tiebreaks.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram

Alex

Alex graduated in mass communication in 2016 and has been covering global sports for Khel Now since then. He is covering sports tech, igaming, sports betting and casino domain from 2017.