Wei Yi beats Ernesto Inarkiev in friendly match
8/23/2018 – A twelve-game match between Wei Yi and Ernesto Inarkiev was played in Magas, the capital town of the Republic of Ingushetia. The Chinese defeated the 2016 European Champion 4:2 in the classical section and achieved a 3½:2½ victory in the rapid. Wei Yi demonstrated his tactical talent more than once. | Photo: Amruta Mokal (archive)
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Wei Yi 7½:4½ Ernesto Inarkiev
Curiously, Wei Yi started the 12-game competition with a loss, but he immediately bounced back with a convincing tactical win in a Sicilian, probably his favourite opening.
Another tactical skirmish gave Wei Yi a win in the third game. The final mating attack was particularly nice:
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In this position, Wei Yi played 34...Rxb2! and Inarkiev resigned. After 35.Rxd3 Rb4 36.Ka3 Nc4# is mate.
The fourth game also went Wei Yi's way. The young Chinese drew the last two games to finish the classical section with a favourable 4:2 score.
All games - Classical
They also played six rapid games with 15 minutes plus a 10-second increment per move. Wei Yi won this section 3½:2½.
All games - Rapid
Final results - Combined
Translation from German: Antonio Pereira
