Baku 2.2: Many tiebreaks

World Cup 10th September – 5th October Baku, Azerbaijan

Round Two - Game Two

The first person to be eliminated today was David Navara. In a sharp King's Indian Defense (an odd choice for a game that you only need to draw), Gadir Guseinov was able to force a perpetual and that ended the Czech's tournament sojourn. Topalov's attack on the kingside was able to crash through Zhigalko's defenses and the Bulgarian #1 seed goes through to round three.

America's Sam Shankland

Nakamura and Shankland drew quickly again and will be going to rapid tiebreak. Also in tiebreak and from America is Onischuk, who was unable to hold his game against Karjakin. In a must-win game, the Russian player had enough faith in his technique to enter an opposite colored bishop endgame that he was eventually able to convert through crisp and precise play.

Onischuk couldn't earn his draw and will go to tiebreaks with Karjakin

Also from America are the third round qualifiers Caruana and So, who eliminated Mamedov and Balogh respectively. They had no real problems in their matches, though Caruana's position was unenviable at a certain point.

Ding Liren drew Inarkiev without questions and is through. In the Chinese derby between Lu Shanglei and Wang Hao the lower rated player advanced after holding his own today.

Lu Shanglei continues to impress. The character on his shirt is
appropriately named "Twisted Fate" from the game League of Legends.

Leko beat Wen Yang to qualify for round three, while Ivanchuk just had to draw against Rodshtein to pass. The Ukrainian gave a perpetual check in a winning position to clinch his pass.

Adams needed to win against Laznicka and he did:

MVL made it look easy and he beat Sargissian by going for an anti-Berlin that he has employed in the past. His bishop was far more powerful than Black's knight and he converted with excellent technique in the endgame.

Ilya Smirin preparing his tea for Radjabov. They are going to tiebreaks, so he will need plenty of it.

Kovalyov beat his former teammate, Mareco in fine style:

Speaking of teammates, Sethuraman was able to beat Harikrishna after the higher rated Indian blundered badly in a difficult position:

Bruzon had to win against Kramnik to reach the tiebreaks, but not only did he have no
chance, he was probably lost in the final position

Both Kramnik and Dominguez secured draws to go on to the next phase. Meanwhile Eljanov and Granda both closed off their series 2-0 by beating Ipatov and Henriquez Villagra.

Eljanov closed powerfully with 2-0

Many matches will be going into tiebreak tomorrow, so stay tuned!

Aronian will play against Areschenko in one of fifteen tiebreaks tomorrow

Nguyen Ngoc Trong goes on to tiebreaks

Mamedyarov couldn't break Hou Yifan and will also play tomorrow

All Round 2.2 Games

Round Two Pairings

Photos and information from the official website and the tournament's Facebook page