Olympic gold medallist Bindra opens FIDE World Cup final in Goa, game 1 ends in draw

Olympic gold medallist in shooting Abhinav Bindra ceremoniously opened the FIDE World Cup final in Goa on Sunday, placing the white pawn to kick off Game 1. The highly anticipated clash saw Uzbekistan’s 2721-rated Javokhir Sindarov take on China’s top player, 2753-rated Wei Yi.

The match, played under the solid Petroff Defense, lasted over four hours and ended in a balanced draw. Wei Yi briefly held a slight advantage but could not convert it into a win, leaving both players sharing the point at ½-½. While both finalists have already qualified for the 2026 Candidates Tournament, the title of World Cup champion and the prestigious Viswanathan Anand Trophy are still up for grabs.

The tension will continue in the second and decisive classical game, scheduled for Monday, 25 November 2025 at 3:00 PM IST. If that game ends in a draw, the tie-break rapid games will be held on Tuesday, 26 November 2025 at 3:00 PM IST, promising fast-paced and thrilling action to determine the ultimate winner.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Yakubboev will face Russia’s Andrey Esipenko in the battle for third place, with another Candidates spot on the line. Chess fans are eagerly awaiting the upcoming games, which promise intense strategic battles and the crowning of a new World Cup champion in Goa.