China's Wei Yi secured a historic victory at the Men's Chess World Cup in Goa, India, defeating Russia's Andrey Esipenko in a tense semifinal decided by rapid tiebreaks on November 24, 2025. The 24-year-old grandmaster will face Uzbekistan's Javokhir Sindarov in the final starting today, marking a career milestone for the highest-seeded remaining player.
After two classical games ended in draws, Wei demonstrated nerves of steel in the rapid rounds. Trailing by two pawns in a critical rook-and-knight endgame during the second tiebreak, he capitalized on Esipenko's defensive miscalculation to force a decisive material advantage at move 57. "This win represents years of preparation meeting opportunity," said an unnamed Chinese Chess Association representative.
The victory makes Wei only the second Chinese player to reach the Men's Chess World Cup final, following Ding Liren's back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2017 and 2019. It also guarantees his participation in the 2026 World Championship Candidates Tournament, continuing China's growing influence in elite chess.
Today's final matchup promises high stakes, with both players seeking their first World Cup title. The three-day event concludes on November 26, coinciding with growing interest in Asia's chess talent pool from global investors and sports analysts.
