Tie-break will determine the winner of FIDE World Cup

The fourth games of the Final and the 3rd place match of the FIDE World Cup were played on October 3 in Khanty-Mansiysk. The playing venue was visited by Yury Yuzhakov and Alexander Tirtoka, Deputy Governors of Ugra, and FIDE Vice-President Mahir Mammedov.

Ding Liren and Teimour Radjabov played a variation of the English Opening, in which Black sacrifices a pawn, but obtains certain compensation due to an insecure position of the white king. The game quickly transposed to an endgame, where White's ruined pawn structure left him little chance of utilizing the extra material. Black regained a pawn in a rook ending and equialised the game fully. A draw was agreed on the 31st move.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Yu Yangyi once again played the Petrov’s Defense. According to the Frenchman, his position was better, however, he was unable to increase this advantage, and after multiple exchanges the game equalised. The players agreed to a draw in a queen ending.

Thus, classical parts of both matches ended in a 2-2 tie, and the winners will be determined on tie-break on Friday, October 4.

In the first rapid game Teimour Radjabov will have White against Ding Liren, and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave will have White against Yu Yangyi.