FIDE World Cup 2025: Drama, Dominance and Quarterfinal Spots Decided in a Two-Day Thriller

Round 5 of the FIDE World Cup 2025 in Goa delivered two days of high-quality chess, emotional exits, and fierce battles for a place in the quarterfinals. At ChessBrainz, we follow these tournaments closely because each game reveals lessons our students can learn from. The classical games on November 15 and the tiebreaks on November 16 together produced some of the most dramatic storylines of the event so far.

WHY Round 5 Became a Turning Point

The classical games set the tone with a mix of flawless technique, missed chances, and emotional turning points. Armenian chess faced a tough day as two of its most respected figures, Levon Aronian and Gabriel Sargissian, were eliminated within minutes of each other. Their departures marked the end of an era defined by resilience and brilliance.

At the same time, Uzbekistan’s Olympiad-winning generation once again proved why they’re considered one of the most disciplined teams in the world. Sindarov, Yakubboev, and their young squad showed maturity under pressure, holding difficult positions and converting chances with icy calm.

These classical results created a tense backdrop for the tiebreaks, where no player could afford even a single slip.

WHAT Happened Across the Two Days

The first phase saw several short draws driven by deep preparation and mutual respect. Dubov–Shankland and Esipenko–Grebnev followed theoretical paths to balanced outcomes, while Harikrishna pressed but couldn’t break Martínez’s defense.

Aronian’s match against Arjun Erigaisi was one of the highlights of the round. A normal-looking queen retreat hid a tactical shot Arjun initially missed, but once the Indian grandmaster found his footing, he kept increasing the pressure. Aronian’s final mistake ended the match abruptly.

Sargissian’s loss came from a single inaccuracy against Yakubboev. The Uzbeks continued to show their trademark composure, securing multiple spots in the next stage.

Wei Yi produced one of the cleanest games of the round, punishing an early mistake from Sevian and converting the extra pawn with technical precision. Donchenko missed several 

wins against Le Quang Liem but ultimately allowed the Vietnamese star to escape into tiebreaks.

The tiebreaks on November 16 brought a shift in pace and aggression. Shankland flipped Dubov’s strategy on its head, striking early in the first rapid game and finishing the match 2-0 in rapids. Esipenko dominated the first rapid game and then held a long endgame to close the match securely.

Harikrishna’s game against Martínez turned when the Peruvian grandmaster outplayed him in the Richter-Rauzer and then neutralized complications in the second game. Donchenko and Le Quang Liem pushed their match into blitz, where Donchenko produced sharp tactics to clinch the final quarterfinal ticket.

 Summary

Round 5 delivered everything: top-level technique, heartbreaking exits, and fearless fighting chess. With eight players remaining Arjun Erigaisi, Wei Yi, Sindarov, Yakubboev, Shankland, Esipenko, José Martínez, and Alexander Donchenko the quarterfinals promise even higher intensity.

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