GM Wei Yi (in pic) and Javokhir Sindarov will play a tie-break under the rapid and blitz format for the FIDE World Cup crown.
Credit: FIDE
The FIDE World Cup finalists Javokhir Sindarov and Wei Yi were in no mood to fight or shied away from taking any risk, settling for a swift and solid but a boring draw never-the-less.
With the final score in the Classical standing at 1-1, the winner of the World Cup title would only emerge on Wednesday, when the tie-break is played under faster time controls under rapid and blitz formats comprising of sets of two.
In the playoffs for the third position, 23-year-old Andrey Esipenko defeated Nodirbek Yakkuboev in the second game, winning the two game mini-match with a 2-0 score to finish third in the event and also grab the third Candidates spot on offer at this tournament.
On Monday, Esipenko had defeated a dis-spirited appearing Yaubboev. Tuesday's round marked the last Classical game of this gruelling event.
The top three finishers from this 206 player tournament with eight rounds will qualify for the Candidates. Incidentally both Sindarov and Wei have secured their spots in the eight-player Candidates tournament.
The winner will be richer by US$ 120000 and will lift up the World Cup trophy which from this year would be called the Viswanathan Anand Trophy in honour of the Indian legend.
On Tuesday, Olympic bronze medallist and ace shuttler Saina Nehwal made the inaugural move.
Sindarov and Wei battled it out in a Spanish Opening and incidentally the exchange of Queens as early as on the10th turn indicated the mood-set of the players. By the 22nd turn, the players indulged in sporadic exchange of pieces at every available or created opportunity. It was a foregone conclusion that with only the opposite colour bishops and pawns on board. only a miracle or a big blunder would provide a decisive result. The draw was signed after the 30th move. Tomorrow’s tie-break is one with the highest stakes and promises plenty of excitement.
Yakkubboev needed to win on demand for survival to force a tie-break and keep his chances to qualify for the Candidates Open. He opted for the English Opening against Esipenko and showed aggressive intentions on the King-side. On the 11th turn Yakubboev decided to grab a pawn and exchanged his good bishop with a knight. After that Esipenko was in a distinctly better position with a knight anchored firmly in enemy territory.
Thereafter the pain of fighting in this uncomfortable position was obvious by Yakubboev’s body language. Soon Esipenko’s queen joined the action and threatened to snare the King into a checkmating net, prompting Yakubboev’s resignation on the 26th turn.
Results: Final: GM Weu Yi drew Javokhir Sindarov 1-1; Third-place playoff: Andrey Esipenko bt Nodirbek Yakubboev 2-0.