THE MAGNIFICENT EIGHT HAS BEEN DETERMINED AT THE WORLD CUP
Official website: http://chess.ugrasport.com
The tie-breaks of the Round 4 of the World Cup were played on Thursday, September 8, in Khanty-Mansiysk.
Three players already qualified for the Quarter-final yesterday: David Navara (Czech Repubic), Peter Svidler (Russia), and Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan). Other five participants were determined in today’s matches:
Bu Xiangzhi (China) — Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine)
Vugar Gashimov (Azerbaijan) — Peter-Heine Nielsen (Denmark)
Judit Polgar (Hungary) — Lenier Dominguez (Cuba)
Ruslan Ponomariov (Ukraine) — Lazaro Bruzon (Cuba)
Alexander Grischuk (Russia) — Vladimir Potkin (Russia)
First the players competed in two 25-minute games. Two matches ended at this stage: Vassily Ivanchuk won twice, and Alexander Grischuk made a draw as White and won as Black. Three players lost the first game, but managed to equalize in the second one: Nielsen, Dominguez, and Bruzon.
Vugar Gashimov won both 10-minute games and advanced to the next round. Lenier Dominguez once again showed his fighting spirit, losing the first game, but winning the second one. Ruslan Ponomariov also lost the first game, and managed to come back in the next one.
Thus, two matches proceeded to the blitz stage: Polgar-Dominguez and Bruzon-Ponomariov. The first games ended peacefully, and in the second games lady luck smiled on Ponomariov and Polgar.
The Quarter-finals begin on Friday, September 9.
Judit Polgar (Hungary) — Peter Svidler (Russia)
Ruslan Ponomariov (Ukraine) — Vugar Gashimov (Azerbaijan)
Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine) — Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan)
David Navara (Czech Republic) — Alexander Grischuk (Russia)
Obviously, all these grandmasters are in excellent form, and there is no point in picking favorites — anyone can win. Unlike boxers, chess players are reluctant to make bold statements to frighten their opponents. For instance, when journalists asked Vassily Ivanchuk about his personal score against Radjabov, the Ukrainian replied: — There is a saying: «Don’t swing your fists after the fight». So why should I swing my fists before the fight?
All games are relayed with live grandmaster commentary in English and Russian on the official site of the World Cup: http://chess.ugrasport.com
Use the following link for computer analysis of the strongest engine — Houdini: http://chess.ugrasport.com/houdini.html
I want Navara to win.