Teimour Radjabov Becomes First Finalist of FIDE World Cup
Ding Liren and Yu Yangyi to play a tie-break.
The return games of the FIDE World Cup Semifinals were played in Khanty-Mansiysk on September 27.
Teimour Radjabov and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave had a discussion in the English Opening. After Black rejected to exchange the queens early in the game, White created a powerful attack on the kingside. The French grandmaster defended resourcefully and saved his king, but lost a pawn in process, while White kept a dominating position with strong pressure on the kingside. Black kept avoiding exchanging the queens, and by the 40th move White's attack was already decisive. In a hopeless position, Vachier-Lagrave blundered a rook and resigned on the 45th move. Teimour Radjabov has become the first finalist of the FIDE World Cup.
Yu Yangyi and Ding Liren played the Nimzo-Indian Defense and up to a certain point followed an earlier game between Yu Yangyi and Nikita Vitiugov. On the 18th move, Ding Liren improved Black's play. The game simplified, and the players agreed to a draw in an equal queen ending on the 30th move, having spent less than an hour at the board.
A tie-break between Ding Liren and Yu Yangyi will be played on September 28. Yu Yangyi has White in the first game.
