World Cup Round 3 tiebreaks: When the clock decides, the better players rise
The 2025 FIDE World Cup continued to deliver high drama in Goa, as Round 3 tiebreaks produced a day filled with tension, brilliance, and heartbreak in equal measure. With places in the final 32 – and the Candidates qualification dream – on the line, nerves ran high across the playing hall. Every move carried enormous weight; a single mistake could mean the end of a months-long journey. In a recent podcast, World No. 3 Fabiano Caruana, already qualified for the Candidates, reflected on the nature of tiebreaks: “The better player usually wins.” As the clock speeds up, he explained, experience, composure, and precision tend to outweigh creative risks. That idea proved prophetic in Goa, as five of the six players rated above 2700 ultimately prevailed, their class showing through when the pressure was at its peak. The day’s results reinforced an enduring truth of knockout chess: when time dwindles and tension mounts, the difference between victory and elimination often lies not in preparation, but in psychology. Some players cracked under the relentless rhythm of rapid and blitz play; others thrived, finding clarity amid chaos. The crowd inside the playing venue could sense it – every board seemed to pulse with intensity. The round began with the ceremonial first move performed by GM Abhijit Kunte, India’s 4th Grandmaster (after Anand, Barua, and Harikrishna) and the Tournament Director of the World Cup. Born in Pune, Maharashtra, in 1977, Kunte was a true pioneer of Indian chess during the late 1990s and early 2000s – a player known for his classical style, deep positional understanding, and his lasting contributions as both coach and mentor. Three of the eleven tiebreaks were decided swiftly, ending after the first 15+10 rapid segment with clean 2–0 victories. The first player to book his ticket to the fourth round was GM Samuel Sevian, the American prodigy who once became the youngest grandmaster in U.S. history at just 13 years and 10 months. Known for his dynamic and fearless style, Sevian thrives in sharp middlegame battles where calculation and courage go hand in hand. Now hovering just below the 2700 rating mark, Sevian has been particularly impressive in rapid formats. After dispatching GM Tin Jingyao (2583) of Singapore in the second round tiebreaks, he repeated the feat today – drawing both classical games before convincingly defeating GM Evgeniy Najer (2610) in two rapid encounters. He shared his thoughts in a short but insightful post-game interview – don’t miss it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7HDnE3VZoQ&t=3s Not long after, I spotted GM Alexey Sarana (2661) leaving the playing venue with a broad smile — and a quick check confirmed why. He had just secured victory in both of his rapid games against GM Jorden Van Foreest (2697), earning his place in the fourth round. A former European Champion (2023) and a player who often hovers around the 2700 mark, the Serbian grandmaster is widely recognized for his technical precision and deep preparation. It had been a hard-fought match: after trading wins in the classical games, Sarana’s superior technique in a series of minor-piece endgames proved decisive in the rapid segment. FIDE’s interview specialist Charlize van Zyl caught up with him moments later for his thoughts on the event. “It’s a very tough tournament, and I try to take it match by match — because even in the first round, you can lose and be out,” Sarana reflected. “This tournament only happens once every two years, so it’s hard to predict anything, but of course the goal is to go as far as possible. As for the format, I think this is the most interesting tournament both to play and to watch. It’s very tense, but also very exciting — I really like the World Cup.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmhECaz1TX8 The third player to advance to the fourth round with a perfect 2–0 score in the first rapid segment was GM Nodirbek Yakubboev of Uzbekistan (rated 2689). Born in 2002, Yakubboev is one of the brightest talents in Uzbek chess and a cornerstone of the national team that captured gold at the 2022 Chess Olympiad in Chennai. A three-time Uzbek national champion, he is known for his calm, classical style, backed by deep opening preparation and remarkable resilience under pressure. After two solid draws in the classical portion against GM Thai Dai Van Nguyen (2664), Yakubboev capitalized on a brief lapse in concentration from his opponent in the second rapid game – enough to secure the win and a spot among the final 32 contenders. Black had just played 23…Rac8? – a serious mistake in an otherwise balanced position. Both 23…Kh7 and 23…Nf5 would have kept the game roughly equal, but this slip proved fatal. Yakubboev immediately pounced with the tactical shot 24.Rxe6!, the key idea being that 24…fxe6 loses to 25.Nxe6, simultaneously attacking the queen and threatening checkmate on g7. Shocked by the sudden turn of events, Nguyen spent a couple of minutes searching for defensive resources. He could have tried 24…Qd7, but instead opted for 24…Qxc3, which failed to the deadly 25.Rxe7 – the rook on a1 cannot be taken due to 25.Ne6! With this victory Yakubboev comfortably advanced to Round 4. Four more players also qualified for the next round with 1.5–0.5 match victories. Among them was GM Richard Rapport (2724), who ended the impressive run of Turkey’s young star, GM Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus (2651). Despite holding his ground in both classical games – no small feat against such a formidable opponent – Erdogmus ultimately bowed out, leaving Goa with a wealth of experience and confidence for future events. Rapport, meanwhile, displayed the trademark class that has made him one of the most admired figures in modern chess. He ground down his opponent in the first rapid game through a long technical endgame, then showed precise defensive technique in the second, holding his ground in the tricky rook and bishop versus rook ending. Born in 1996 in Szombathely, Hungary, Rapport is celebrated for his creativity and originality, his unorthodox openings, and his fearless, artistic approach