4th FIDE Grand Prix, Jerusalem, 11-23 December 2019

[Mick Norris]

Shak is out, so can't reach the Candidates

Currently MVL has 14 points, Nepo has 10, So has 6

[Tim Harding]

Wang Hao v Navara and Harikrishna-Karjakin first 5/3 games drawn; second one coming up soon.

[JustinHorton]

So plays Nepo in the next round, so one of them has to go out, and be out of Candidates contention.

I think that if So beats Nepo and MVL beats Andreikin, then unless So wins in two and MVL doesn't, then MVL can't be caught. But I wouldn't trust me on that.

[JustinHorton]

Navara prevails: Karjakin (still a wildcard contender?) and Harikrishna go to game nine.

[Mick Norris]

So v Nepo in the quarter final; MVL v Andreikin completes the top half

Bottom half is Wei Yi v Karjakin and Navara v Jakovenko

[Mick Norris]

Karjakin (still a wildcard contender?)

Karjakin would have to come third by winning this; he'd also need So to beat Nepo, and then lose in the semi I think

[JustinHorton]

MVL punting the French Exchange. Karjakin already has his draw and time to rest before tomorrow's draw.

[JustinHorton]

Four draws in a total of sixty-nine moves. Hey, this knockout format makes for exciting chess!

[Alex Holowczak]

Four draws in a total of sixty-nine moves. Hey, this knockout format makes for exciting chess!

I think the main problem is that nearly everyone is going through the motions at the end of a long year, because they can't qualify for the Candidates.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Do we know yet who will qualify from the Grand Prix for the Candidates?

[JustinHorton]

One place yes, one place no, potential wild card place no.

[JustinHorton]

Four draws in a total of sixty-nine moves. Hey, this knockout format makes for exciting chess!

I think the main problem is that nearly everyone is going through the motions at the end of a long year, because they can't qualify for the Candidates.

There's got to be something in this, but there are three contenders (four including Karjakin) still playing.

It does seem to me that knockout formats do incentivise risk-avoidance - it's the sudden-death element if you lose.

[JustinHorton]

Nepo and So treat us to eighteen moves before putting their feet up

[Mick Norris]

I think that puts So out of the running if MVL beats Andreikin

[Tim Harding]

Navara has beaten Jakovenko in their second classical game. He will play the winner of tomorrow's playoff between Wei Yi and Karjakin.

The two matches in the top half of the draw also play off tomorrow.
If So beats Nepo then MVL is in the Candidates whatever happens in his playoff. If Nepo wins the qualification spot remains open.