ARPORA, Nov. 25 -- Team Herald [emailprotected]

Chinese GM Wei Yi played another solid game with black pieces to hold GM Javokhir Sindarov to a draw in the opening game of the FIDE World Cup 2025 final at a resort, here, on Monday. GM Andrey Esipenko defeated GM Nodirbek Yakubboev in the third place match. In the first game of the final, Wei once again opted for Petrov defence with black and made Sindarov take risks to look for a win. And Wei's plan almost worked as the Chinese was in a slightly stronger position in the bishop-pawn endgame. But Sindarov was alert to the challenges posed by his opponent and the two players accepted a draw after 50 moves. In the third-place play-off, GM Nodirbek Yakubboev opted for the Sicilian defence and...