The opening games of the FIDE World Cup semifinals in Panaji ended in draws on Friday, as neither side was able to break through with the white pieces.
Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Yakubboev agreed to a quick draw with compatriot Javokhir Sindarov after the required 30 moves. In the parallel match, China’s Wei Yi and Russia’s Andrey Esipenko played a sharper game, with Wei pressing in a rare line of the French Defence. Despite holding an early edge, he was unable to convert, and the players split the point after 33 moves.
The results leave both semifinal clashes wide open ahead of the return games.
