2017 World Cup 2-27 September, Tbilisi

[Matt Mackenzie]

I think we will see MVL and Svidler tomorrow.

A reasonable assumption as they've already drawn

To be fair, they had not when I made it.

Though engines give Black a significant edge FWIW.

[JustinHorton]

Yeah I was surprised Svidler called it off a early as he did.

Fedoseev might still be alive if he gets his king active.

[JustinHorton]

Meanwhile Rapport has so far used 18 minutes on considering move 26 (eight minutes left) which I reckon means he thinks he's lost this one.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Come on, So v Fedoseev. Put your minds to it, and you can surely reach R + P v B + P.

[Martin Benjamin]

39...Kf4 40 Bd2 would be an unusual mating pattern in So v Fedoseev.

[JustinHorton]

I wanted Fedoseev to hazard his d-pawn for counterplay earlier. Instead he seems to have gone for the strategy of trying to protect everything, and I don't think it'll work.

By contrast, Rapport might have a better chance than I thought he thought he had. (EDIT: he didn't.)

[Matt Mackenzie]

Having his K cut off will doom RR, I would say.

[LawrenceCooper]

Having his K cut off will doom RR, I would say.

Yes 1-0, Ding through, probably to play So.

[JustinHorton]

I wonder if he had to lose that from the position at, say, move 35? I thought it looked OK at the time but the more I look at it, the less I still think so.

Ding's looking in some form.

[LawrenceCooper]

I wonder if he had to lose that from the position at, say, move 35? I thought it looked OK at the time but the more I look at it, the less I still think so.

Ding's looking in some form.

It looks lost, white is a pawn up, will create an outside passed pawn (on both sides of the board), fewer pawn islands and a more active rook. White could still go wrong but at that level I would expect white to convert.

[Jonathan Rogers]

I wonder if he had to lose that from the position at, say, move 35? I thought it looked OK at the time but the more I look at it, the less I still think so.

Ding's looking in some form.

He seems to play with such confidence, doesn't he? A worthy semi-finalist, and his aforementioned "team" might help to neutralise what would ordinarily be a possible advantage to So on preparation.

[JustinHorton]

He seems to play with such confidence, doesn't he?

Certainly with the White pieces. Not saying he doesn't with Black, just that I've not really noticed his Black games, only the last couple of really smooth White efforts.

Mind you So, if it is So, is usually pretty solid on the Black side.

[LawrenceCooper]

Aronian through with a 71 move draw. So still better against Fedoseev.

[LawrenceCooper]

So also wins and will face Ding in the semi-final.

[Roger de Coverly]

So still better against Fedoseev.

Looks like he found a route to a winning position.

This is where they started (Black to move)
[SetUp "1"]<br> [FEN "3b4/7p/3B4/p2p1k2/P2P1p1p/2P2P2/6PK/8 b - - 0 56"]

and this is where they've reached (Black to move)
[SetUp "1"]<br> [FEN "8/8/2kb4/p2pB2p/P1PP1p2/3K1P1P/8/8 b - - 2 83"]

Fedoseev has resigned.