2017 World Cup 2-27 September, Tbilisi

[Mick Norris]

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

With a Candidates place at stake, although So via rating and Ding via the GP have other chances of reaching the Candidates

[Chris Rice]

Peter Doggers report on Day 2 of the quarter-finals. Impressive endgame technique from So and and the win helps him in the race to the Candidates: Caruana 2807, So 2806, Kramnik 2805.

Just one match to go to the tie-breakers tomorrow, but what a match!

Vachier-Lagrave (2804) - Svidler (2756) ½-½,½-½
Ivanchuk (2727) - Aronian (2802) 0-1,½-½
So (2792) - Fedoseev (2731) ½-½,1-0
Ding Liren (2771) - Rapport (2675) ½-½,1-0

[JustinHorton]

I am therefore not surprised with Emil Sutovsky's response on FB today to Makropoulos because that's exactly what it looks like:

"FIDE is FIDE is FIDE. Read the letter of the Canadian Chess Federation, and the reply. I really don't understand this excuse. So, if somebody brought 14 million, he can insult and threaten a player? and what if he brought 30 million - he gets the right to hit somebody? Scared to think what the guy who brought 50 million is allowed to do..."

Of course in English chess we are very used to hearing "they've brought money into the game" as a response to questions and criticism.

[Mick Norris]

Chess Mind game analysis

[JustinHorton]

"A lot of water’s flown under the bridge since then"

[Mick Norris]

Indeed, a very tough match to predict a winner; might be very interesting

[Jonathan Rogers]

Is anyone going to predict a winner of this tie?!

(I'm not).

[LawrenceCooper]

Is anyone going to predict a winner of this tie?!

(I'm not).

MVL.

[Chris Rice]

The quarter final line up features 8 players from 7 different countries:

Svidler v MVL
Ivanchuk v Aronian
So v Fedoseev
Rapport v Ding Liren

I really would like Svidler, Ivanchuk, Fedoseev and Rapport to progress but I suspect they will all go out next round and we'll end up with MVL, Aronian, So and Ding as a pretty powerful last four. Hope I'm wrong.

In reply to Jon, MVL, I've got the other three right, wish I hadn't.

[Jonathan Rogers]

well ... our best chance yet for an Armageddon game, I think

[LawrenceCooper]

Svidler defends well to draw the first game.

[LawrenceCooper]

Black's position (MVL) looks very promising in game 2 albeit level material.

[LawrenceCooper]

Black's position (MVL) looks very promising in game 2 albeit level material.

0-1 MVL through to play Aronian on Tuesday.

[JustinHorton]

God what a disaster for Svidler.

[Matt Mackenzie]

So after all the previous excitement, the last four isn't *that* remarkable.