Chess World Cup: Both semi-final games end in draw; Indian exits leave minimal interest among locals

In the FIDE World Cup semifinals, top seed Wei Yi drew his first game against Andrey Esipenko, while the match between Uzbek players Nodirbek Yakubboev and Javokhir Sindarov also ended in a draw. Despite fewer spectators after Indian players’ elimination, the remaining competitors maintained their spirit. The second games are scheduled for Saturday, with tiebreaks to follow if needed.