13 December 2018
All Games Drawn in London Again
Finalists of Grand Chess Tour to be determined in rapid and blitz.
Photo: Lennart Ootes
Second games of the semi-final matches of the Grand Chess Tour final tournament were played in London on December 12. Both games ended in draws.
The encounter of the American grandmasters was quite solid, and a draw in the endgame with bishops of the same color became a natural result of the game. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, who played Black with Levon Aronian, held and drew a rook endgame with a pawn down.
Now the play switches to Rapid & Blitz on December 13. The winners then go through to the 3-day Final, held at the traditional Olympia London venue on December 15-16 (Classical) & 17 (Rapid & Blitz). There will also be a Third Place Playoff.
The fantastic four will be dueling for a total of USD 300,000 in GCT prize money. The 2018 GCT champion will take home a 1st prize of USD 120,000.
Grand Chess Tour website
London Chess Classic website
