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Radjabov & Aronian have withdrawn

Wang Hao & Andreikin now playing

Seedings put MVL (1) & Nepo (4) in the top half; Shak (2) & Giri (3) in the bottom half

That leaves the theoretical possibility of Shak beating MVL in the final and both qualifying ahead of Grischuk

Nepo v Gelfand was a hell of a game

Giri and Wei already signed up for the play-offs

Meanwhile if you believe the Chessbomb computer, Mamedyarov is already in a lot of trouble, although he has only taken a few minutes so for all I know it's a prepared line that comes out all right in the end.

JustinHorton wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 12, 2019 1:48 pm

Giri and Wei already signed up for the play-offs

Karjakin and Harikrishna too

Based on the positions on the boards of MVL, Nepo and Shak, looks like Grischuk will be qualified for the Candidates by the end of today

Mick Norris wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 12, 2019 2:16 pm

Based on the positions on the boards of MVL, Nepo and Shak, looks like Grischuk will be qualified for the Candidates by the end of today

Draws for all those three

Yes, so Grischuk qualifies as MVL can't overtake him now without winning the event, which would mean that Grischuk can't finish worse than 2nd in the GP

I'm glad to see him there; it also avoids a 3 way match for the wildcard (with Nepo & Alekseenko) I think (unless Andreikin wins this event and manages somehow to scrape into 3rd place in the GP)

Wesley So the only two-game winner, in the end. I assume he'd have to win the thing to have a chance?

JustinHorton wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 12, 2019 7:14 pm

Wesley So the only two-game winner, in the end. I assume he'd have to win the thing to have a chance?

Yes; the extra point from winning in the classical gives him that chance I think

Checking, he's now up to 5 points and would get another 8 with a win, which is MVL's current score in 2nd place; he'd be ahead on 1st tiebreak by winning the event

He can get up to another 3 points by winning each round without tiebreaks

chess.com round 2 report

Tiebreaks now underway; MVL, Shak & Nepo win game 1

Nepo and MVL are through 2-0 but Jakovenko looks like taking Shak to blitz.

Yes and first blitz game is drawn

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

Shak is out so it's MVL or Nepo to reach the Candidates - and most likely Nepo would get the wild card anyway.
The last two matches are on to the fast stuff and maybe Armagedddon,