1/2 finale Vendredi 31 à partir de 14h30
| Hikaru Nakamura | (2704) | – | Anatoly Karpov | (2651) | : | |
| Anatoly Karpov | (2651) | – | Hikaru Nakamura | (2704) | : |
| Magnus Carlsen | (2786) | – | Vassily Ivanchuk | (2786) | : | |
| Vassily Ivanchuk | (2786) | – | Magnus Carlsen | (2786) | : |
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Nakamura E-liminates Karpov in the blitz 2-0. Highly expected.
Carlsen – Nakamura, I hope
Carlsen (white) luckily drew first game with Ivanchuk.
I hope Susan tells us how Ivanchuk could have won the game against Carlsen. When there were only rook-pawns, I thought they were in theoretical draw territory (“depending upon the positions of all the other pieces”), and then when Chukky let him cut on the 4th rank it looked more difficult, but did he really need to give the other pawn away and cause an immediate remis? I guess that one of the crucial things is that after Ra4! Black’s K has nowhere to hide from checks on the a-file. Still, you give up the a-pawn and keep the h-pawn? Maybe that’s what Ivanchuk was spending 2 minutes thinking about on move 3 of the next game …?
Rapids tied
1st blitz for Chucky
I don’t see hope for Magnus
Once again Ivanchuk showing his blitz power…1 more draw for Ivanchuk in blitz to win mac against Carlsen. The Nakamura-Ivanchuk…where Nakamura will most likely win if it gets to the blitz. I mostly expect Ivanchuk to win the World Blitz Championship…because Nakamura is not there!
Chuky will crush Naka.
Magnus would too.
2nd blitz 1/2
Ivanchuk – Nakamura – I hope Vassily will win