World Cup: Semi-finals begin tomorrow
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
Today’s tie-break matches between Ivanchuk and Radjabov and then Grischuk and Navara saw Ivanchuk and Grischuk move forward to the semi-finals. Both Radjabov and Navara receive $25,000 as compensation. The semi-finals begin tomorrow, and will be (once more) 2 game matches at regulation time followed by tie-breaks (if necessary).
Of the 4 semi-finalists, 3 will qualify for the upcoming World Championship Candidates Tournament. The other semi-finalist gets to tell his grandchildren about how he almost qualified…The losers of the semi-finals receive $50,000 each for their efforts. The 2 finalists will be luckier: not only will they get more money ($120,000 and $80,000 respectively), but they will also be allowed to play a semi-serious match of four (4) games at regulation time control! When it rains, it pours!
MY PREDICTIONS
I could be nasty and say that all regulation time control games will be drawn in under 25 moves each (!), but I will try to be more reasonable and limit myself to say that all the games will be drawn. Then the peanut gallery will stage another ”this is killing chess” riot on the internet and finally ChessBase will have another 5 or 6 intensely boring articles by leading (self-proclaimed) staticians making opposite claims…
I suspect the finals will be between Svidler and Grischuk. Why? They seem to smile more than the Ukrainians!
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS