Le Quang Liem (L) falls to Germany’s Alexander Donchenko in the Round 5 tie-breaks on November 16. (Photo: FIDE)
Facing Donchenko in the fifth round, Liem initially held an advantage with the white pieces in the rapid games. However, after two tightly contested legs, the players remained deadlocked at 2-2 and were forced into additional tie-breaks under the 10+10 time control. Neither competitor managed to break through, resulting in a 3-3 tie.
The match then moved to blitz to decide the winner. The first game ended in another draw, but in the second, Liem made a critical mistake, allowing Donchenko to secure victory after 48 moves. The final score was 4.5-3.5 in favour of the German player, ending Liem’s hopes of reaching the quarter-finals. Despite the loss, Liem earned USD 25,000 in prize money for his performance.
The ongoing 2025 Chess World Cup from October 30 to November 27 features 206 players competing in a knockout format, with a total prize pool of USD 2 million. The champion will receive USD 120,000. The biennial tournament brings together top-ranked players, qualifiers from continental championships, and selected invitees.
