Predict the World Cup results and become famous ...

[Roger de Coverly]

MVL is however clinging on by his fingernails (though I have no idea about rook endings).

Don't forget that the Rook ending with f and h pawns is usually theoretically drawn. It does set the challenge either of knowing the principles or memorising parts of the tablebase solution.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

King has to be in the right place, though, and this doesn't look good for MVL. And he has just blundered right now with 55...Kd3 and the online evaluation has jumped to 3.07 - which must be a win now for Giri (confirmed by tablebases, apparently).

[LawrenceCooper]

Giri has won to join Eljanov in the semi-final. The other two matches will be decided tomorrow.

[Matthew Turner]

In some ways the Quarter-Final were quite disappointing. Nakamura and MVL gave way quite tamely in the end and the other two matches never quite sprung into life. The highlight was undoubtedly Eljanov's technique in the first match and there seems to be quite a few lessons to learn from that one.

[Mick Norris]

1. Svidler vs. Wei Yi
2. Giri vs. Vachier-Lagrave
3. Nakamura vs. Eljanov
4. Mamedyarov vs. Karjakin

3/4

[Mick Norris]

I didn't do very well predicting the last round so here we go again.

1. Svidler - I think a lot of Wei Yi's success is down to awesome preparation. I am predicting that Svidler will have the savvy to sidestep it and experience will prevail.
2. Giri - He seems to be someone who just enjoys playing. I think that relaxed attitude will really help at an event like this, so I am predicting he'll handle the pressure better
3. Eljanov - Finally emerging after being a committed second to Gelfand - I think he is set to really push on
4. Mamedyarov - More creative than his opponent so he'll find a way to win, even if it ends up being quite an ugly way.

Very close to a full house

[LawrenceCooper]

1. Svidler vs. Wei Yi
2. Giri vs. Vachier-Lagrave
3. Nakamura vs. Eljanov
4. Mamedyarov vs. Karjakin

3/4

A good recovery from 0/1

[Mick Norris]

1. Svidler vs. Wei Yi
2. Giri vs. Vachier-Lagrave
3. Nakamura vs. Eljanov
4. Mamedyarov vs. Karjakin

3/4

A good recovery from 0/1

and the semi final winners will be?

[Tim Harding]

and the semi final winners will be?

GIRI for one.

I shall be supporting the loyal Ukrainian against the renegade but fear the worst.

[LawrenceCooper]

and the semi final winners will be?

Giri and Eljanov helped by their day off.

[JustinHorton]

GIR
KAR

[John McKenna]

SVI for me.

(No comment on the other semi.)

[Matthew Turner]

I have been supporting Svidler and Eljanov from the start - Svidler because he is such a nice guy and Eljanov because I've always picked him to go through. Now we get to business end then I'll perform a volte face and go for Giri and Karjakin with Karjakin to prevail in the Final. I cannot really think of any logic to support those picks and in Svidler's case I hope I am wrong, but there you go.

[Mick Norris]

Giri is under less pressure for a Candidates spot, Svidler has won the WC in the past and I think no-one has won it twice (although Anand won it twice under a different title?)

[JustinHorton]

Giri seems to me to be very hard to beat, which was a characteristic that Kramnik acquired on his way to becoming world champion.