6 August 2021

Jan-Krzysztof Duda Becomes FIDE World Cup Winner

Magnus Carlsen won the match for third place.

Photo: David Llada / FIDE
Photo: David Llada / FIDE


Second games of the FIDE World Cup final between Sergey Karjakin (Russia) and Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Poland) and for third place between Magnus Carlsen (Norway) and Vladimir Fedoseev (Russia) finished Thursday, August 5, in Sochi.

The symbolic first move in Duda – Karjakin was made by Sergey Tolchinsky, the Russian hockey player and the Avangard KHL Club forward.

The GMs have opted for the trendy line of the Queen's Gambit Tarrasch Defense, which has already been employed more than once in this tournament. In particular, Duda was White against Grischuk, and Karjakin was Black against Fedoseev. The Polish player resorted to a new plan, leaving the king in the center and looking forward to a quick transition into the endgame. The idea proved strong and took the opponent by surprise; after the exchange of queens and some of the pieces, White's advantage increased significantly. Duda grabbed space, and the black pieces just witnessed the action from the rear. White won a pawn, and Sergey Karjakin resigned on move 30.

Jan-Krzysztof Duda has become FIDE World Cup Winner. Magnus Carlsen was the first to congratulate him.

Magnus Carlsen and Vladimir Fedoseev played out the Caro-Kann Defense. Black failed to solve his opening problems: his king remained uncastled, and White's play was simple and straightforward. The World Champion stepped up threats on the kingside, forcing black pieces to defend his king, and then broke through in the center. Carlsen started by sacrificing the exchange and then his rook to get to the opponent's king and set his central pawns in motion. Being up an exchange in the final position, Black virtually had no moves to make. Fedoseev recognized his defeat on move 49. 

The closing ceremony takes place in the Trade and Entertainment Complex Galaktika on August at 15:00 p.m.

Official website

Photos by Eteri Kublashvili