Tie-breaks of the FIDE World Cup Final and 3rd place match were played on October 4 in Khanty-Mansiysk.
Teimour Radjabov had White in the first rapid game. The advantage passed from one player to another a few times, yet the game ended in a draw. The second encounter took a calmer course and quickly reached the peaceful outcome.
In the first 10-minute game Radjabov got an advantage as Black in the English Opening, but Ding Liren managed to survive. In the second 10-minute game the opponents also preferred not to break lances and shook hands on the 30th move.
In the first blitz game, Radjabov outplayed his opponent in a minor piece ending with Black, although Ding Liren did not fully exploit the defensive potential of his position. In the return game, the Chinese grandmaster tried to mount a comeback but was eventually defeated as well.
Thus, the score in the Final is 6:4 in favor of Teimour Radjabov, who becomes the winner of the 2019 FIDE World Cup.
“I can’t even feel anything at the moment. It is extreme exhaustion. I am just happy with the last two games in which I was able to outplay him in the fast part, where the hands were moving,” told Teimour after the victory.
In the 3rd place match, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave celebrated a convincing victory in the first game, playing White. Yu Yangyi was unable to alter the course of the match in the second game, losing as White in 24 moves. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave wins the bronze of the World Cup.
In an interview afterward, the Frenchman said he is very happy about his play in the rapid games. He is planning have some drinks with his friends, get some rest and then start his preparation for the 3rd leg of the FIDE Grand Prix in November.
Both finalists of the World Cup secured spots in the Candidates Tournament, which will take place in the spring of 2020 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. According to the regulations, the 3rd place finisher of the World Cup can also be included in the Candidates Tournament, if nominated by the organizer.
Total prize fund of the FIDE World Cup is $1,600,000. The winner received $110,000, the runner-up got $80,000.
The closing ceremony of the FIDE World Cup began with performances of local artists, who developed the theme of opposition of white and black kings, introduced at the opening ceremony. Svyatoslav Pastukhov, drummer, composer, laureate of all-Russian music competitions, Black and White vocal duo, and artists of the Otdykhai theatre studio performed on stage for the participants and tournament guests.
Before the main prize-giving ceremony, Mark Glukhovsky, Executive Director of the Chess Federation of Russia, announced the winner of the Brilliancy Prize, provided by the Russian Chess Federation in cooperation with AB InBev Efes.
We remind you that a jury led by Maxim Notkin, Chief Editor of 64-Chess Review, made shortlists of 4-5 most exciting games after the rounds 1-2, 3-4, and 5-6. After that, an online poll was created and announced on the official site of the event and social media. The candidate games of the main and consolation finals were nominated by the jury.
The final shortlist consisted of four games: Firouzja - Dubov, Xiong - Duda, Radjabov - Vachier-Lagrave, and Ding Liren - Radjabov.
The experts awarded the Brilliancy Prize to Ding Liren for his victory vs. Radjabov. The Chinese grandmaster received an elegant trophy.
The award ceremony was attended by Alexander Tirtoka, Deputy Governor of Ugra, and Mair Mammedov, FIDE Vice-President.
Alexander Tirtoka, Deputy Governor of Ugra: “During this month the land of Ugra became home for the participants of the event. We saw fierce sporting competition. All players demonstrated their desire to win, but the strongest prevailed. However, I think a true winner of this competition is chess, one of the most intelligent and elegant sports.”
Mair Mammedov, FIDE Vice-President: “On behalf of the International Chess Federation and FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, I greet you all here. What we have seen in Khanty-Mansiysk was a true fest of chess. A year ago, on October 3, 2018, Arkady Dvorkovich from Russia was elected a new FIDE President. I was on his team during the race. I am a Vice-President of FIDE now, and I must say we've done a lot during this year. And we are happy that one of the longest tournaments in our chess calendar was organized here, in Khanty-Mansiysk. It is great to see such a passion for chess from Natalya Komarova, the Governor of Ugra. Khanty-Mansiysk hosted the World Cup for the fifth time! There was a fierce and exciting competition, and I am proud to say that Khanty-Mansiysk has always been a lucky place for the players from Azerbaijan. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov won the World Rapid Championship here, and now we see a great triumph of Teimour Radjabov. I am thankful to the organizers and partners, I congratulate the finalists and the players who competed for third place.”
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.
