Panaji, Nov. 24 -- 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, while GM Andrey Esipenko defeated GM Nodirbek Yakubboev in the third-place match here on Monday.

In the first game of the final, Wei once again opted for Petrov's defence with black, forcing Sindarov to take risks in search of 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 agreed to a draw after 50 moves.

In the third-place play-off, GM Nodirbek Yakubboev opted for the Sicilian defence and had to dig himself out of a...