MVL was one of only 3 decisive games in round one. Off to a good start.
Radjabov drew as white against a 2650 named Riazantsev.
Radjabov choosing to play it safe in the first round. Hmm.
2017 WC Candidates -- Who's In Who's Out
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Nov 17, 2017
0
#2
Nov 18, 2017
0
#3
Round 2
MVL holds off Giri in a Bg5 Najdorf.
Radjabov scores with the black pieces in an a5 g4 KID.
Both players are now among the 4 leaders.
Two spots still open. Current lineup is:
Karjakin
Aronian
Ding
Caruana
So
Kramnik
--???--
--???--
The other two will come from the Grand Prix, the final leg of which starts tomorrow!
Currently leading in the GP standings are:
Mamedyarov (GP rank 1, world rank 3) and
Grischuk (GP rank 2, world rank 11)
Neither are playing in the final event.
In the hunt starting tomorrow will be:
Radjabov (GP rank 3, world rank 17) and
MVL (GP rank 4, world rank 5).
In the tourney that starts tomorrow, Radjabov will need to finish in at least the top 3, MVL at least in the top 2 to hope to qualify for the candidates tournament.
But there is no guarantee as the field is strong, including live rank top-10ers Aronian, Naka, and Ding and a few who are just outside of that circle like Giri and Svidler.
Even if you don't care about MVL or Radjabov, it will be interesting to see the way they choose to play in this 9 round event. MVL narrowly missed qualifying through the world cup this year, being knocked out in the semi finals by Aronian. Notably he was knocked out without even losing a game (lost in an armageddon playoff).