Hikaru Nakamura Eliminated From Baku Fide Chess Wolrd Cup 2015
Sabtu, 26 September 2015
A “petite combinaison” led to an endgame where a rook and passed a-pawn outweighed bishop and knight.
The Ukrainian GM took his tally of rating points gained at the event to 33.
Nakamura must win the return game with the white pieces to avoid elimination.
• Michael Adams wins another epic battle to grind his way into last 16
Ukraine’s success may be to Russia’s detriment.
Should Nakamura save the match and then get to the final at Baku, Dmitry Jakovenko, eliminated by Eljanov, would still qualify for the Candidates as the third-placed finisher in the FIDE Grand Prix.
Fabiano Carauna and Nakamura are already qualified for the Candidates via the Grand Prix as winner and runner-up respectively, but if Nakamura was winner or losing finalist at the World Cup, that would take precedence.
In the other games, Svidler – Wei Yi was a quiet draw, as was Vachier-Lagrave – Giri.
Sergey Karjakin just clung on against Shak Mamedyarov.
An impressive victory from the quarter-final:
