Ding Liren and Levon Aronian to Play World Cup Final

Both grandmasters qualified for the Candidates Tournament-2018.

On September 21, the tie-break matches of the FIDE World Cup semi-final were played in Tbilisi.

Levon Aronian lost to Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the first rapid game, but managed to win back in the second one. Wesley So and Ding Liren drew both rapid games. 

Ding Liren defeated Wesley So in their first ’10+10’ game and mad a draw in the second encounter to become the first World Cup finalist and to qualify for the Candidates Tournament-2018. 

Levon Aronian and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave made two draws in ’10+10’ match. 

Blitz games did’t determine a stronger one as well, and the opponents had two play Armageddon. Levon Aronian, who had the white pieces, won the «sudden death» game to quality both for the World Cup final and the Candidates Tournament-2018.

September 22 is the tournament’s free day. 

The final match (4 games and a tie-break if necessary) starts on September 23. Levon Aronian will have the white pieces. 

Official website

Photos by Eteri Kublashvili