Quarterfinals of FIDE World Cup Begin in Khanty-Mansiysk
All games were drawn.
Starting games of the FIDE World Cup Quarterfinals were played in Khanty-Mansiysk on September 23.
Xiong - Radjabov was a relatively quiet draw. Minor pieces were exchanged quite early. Black managed to invade White's camp with his queen, forcing the opponent to demonstrate certain accuracy. However, the game remained objectively even and ended in a draw by repetition on the 30th move.
Levon Aronian and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave also produced a solid draw in the Gruenfeld Defense. After mass exchanges early in the opening, a minor pieces ending arose. With accurate play Black neutralized all possible threats, and then sacrificed a pawn, which led to a drawn ending with opposite-coloured bishops. The players then agreed to a draw.
Alexander Grischuk and Ding Liren discussed a sharp line of the Catalan, in which Black sacrifices a pawn for the initiative. At the critical moment of the game White was ready to sacrifice an exchange, but Black, instead of accepting the offer, gave a rook for a knight himself. It led to a dynamic maneuvering battle with unbalanced material, which ended in a draw right after the control was passed.
Nikita Vitiugov and Yu Yangyi played the Najdorf Sicilian. Initially White got a certain plus, however, after the game the Russian confessed that he was dissatisfied with his actions after the opening. Later in the game, Black sacrificed an exchange, obtaining a powerful bishop pair that secured him sufficient compensation. A draw was agreed on the 43rd move.
The return games with the colours reversed will be played on Tuesday, September 24.
