The FIDE World Cup Semifinals began in Khanty-Mansiysk on September 26.
Ding Liren and Yu Yangyi played the English Opening. After the game, the rating favorite confessed that he had mixed up something in the opening and ended up in an inferior position. However, noticeably tired after a dramatic tie-break yesterday, Yu Yangyi did not manage to pose serious problems for his friend and compatriot. The game was drawn by a threefold repetition on the 27th move.
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Teimour Radjabov had an opening discussion in the Rossolimo Sicilian. The Frenchman had White and improved his play compared to a recent game against Magnus Carlsen. However, after the queens were exchanged, Black reached a safe and comfortable position. Moreover, with the rooks leaving the board White needed to demonstrate some accuracy to preserve the balance. Black, for his part, decided not to squeeze water from a stone, and a draw was agreed on the 31st move.
“Generally I think it was never too bad for me. Certainly, at some point, I felt that I might get into an unpleasant endgame. I had two bishops, but their positioning was very awkward. Once I got my bishop to b5, I was happy about my position. Maybe it is easier to play as Black, but probably it is just equal. I think it is a normal outcome.” commented Teimour Radjabov in the post-game interview.
The return games with the colors reversed will be played on September 27.
The competition is organized by the Government of Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug – Ugra, International Chess Federation (FIDE), Ugra Chess Federation, and Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation.
Official website: https://khantymansiysk2019.fide.com/en/
General partner – Gazpromneft-Khantos LCC.
Official airline – Utair.
Official partners of the competition: OJSC Rostelecom, Ugra Chess Academy, Russian Chess Federation, AB InBev Efes, and PJSC Rosneft.
FIDE official partner – JSCo "RZD".
General media partner – News Agency TASS.
Media partners – Match TV, World of Chess social network, OTRC "Ugra", Ugra-news.ru News of Ugra regional newspaper, AIF-Ugra newspaper.
