Overview
- Andrey Esipenko defeated Nodirbek Yakubboev in both classical games of the third-place playoff to take bronze and secure a 2026 Candidates Tournament place.
- Wei Yi and Javokhir Sindarov drew both classical games in the World Cup final, sending the Viswanathan Anand Cup to rapid and possibly blitz tiebreaks.
- Wei and Sindarov had already qualified for the Candidates by winning their semifinal tiebreaks, with Wei advancing after Esipenko’s decisive rook blunder and Sindarov beating Yakubboev.
- Time pressure proved pivotal throughout the closing rounds, from Esipenko’s semifinal error to Yakubboev’s severe clock trouble against Esipenko in the playoff.
- The Goa event is a 206-player knockout with a $2 million purse awarding three Candidates spots, and the 2026 Candidates are scheduled for Cyprus.