There are 4 players left and the semi-finals have started.
Aronian v MVL and Wes So v Ding Liren.
Both classical games played today drawn.
Wes So missed a great chance to score a win but it was complicated.
One classical game, it tied then two 25 minutes rapid games,
if still drawn then 2 * 10 minute blitz if still tied then Armageddon.
Losing semi-finalist get $50,000 2nd $90,000 winner $120,000.
winner and 2nd also get place in the 2018 Candidates.
This is one of the lines Wes So missed. There are other lines but this
one shows you better. It was OTB and too complicated to work out.
It either won gloriously or failed dismally.
[FEN "2k5/2p3p1/1p1p1p2/rP1NpPP1/p1P1P3/Rn1P3r/1P1K4/6R1 w - - 0 1"]
1. Rxb3 {In the game Wes played 1.Kc3.} 1... axb3 2. gxf6 gxf6 3. Rg8+ Kb7 {There are other lines with the BK going to d7.} 4. Rg7 Ra2 5. Rxc7+ Ka8 6. Kc3 Rh2 7. Nxb6+ Kb8 8. Rc8+ Kb7 9. Rc6 Raxb2 10. Rxd6 Rhc2+ 11. Kb4 Ra2 12. Kc5 b2 {Even on a on a good day you struggle to get as far as here in the mind, remember there are quite a few other paths to follow, and still not see the win.} 13. Rd7+ Kb8 14. Kc6 {White wins.}
10 Sep '17 18:25
2017 Chess World Cup
Back to Top