We have a second semifinalist after Levon Aronian. Two of the four pools' winners will be decided tomorrow, in the tiebreaks.  

 Pool A 1 2 3 4 PTS Grischuk aa 1/2-0 1/2-1/2 1/2-1 3.0 Nakamura 1/2-1 aa 1-1/2 1/2-1/2 4.0 Esipenko 1/2-1/2 0-1/2 aa 1-1 3.5 Bacrot 1/2-0 1/2-1/2 0-0 aa 1.5

Hikaru Nakamura needed a draw today to qualify for the semifinals. Esipenko, in the first part of the game, played very well, and Nakamura found himself in muddy waters. But then Hikaru, who is a resourceful player, succeeded in equalizing the game, which ended in a draw. After Aronian, Nakamura is the second semifinalist. Congratulations! After the game, Hikaru said,

"Obviously, it's a big relief. Very crazy game. You bend but don't break, goes the saying."  

 Pool B 1 2 3 4 PTS Wojtaszek aa 1/2-1/2 1-1/2 1/2-1/2 3.5 Fedoseev 1/2-1/2 aa 0-0 1-1 3.0 Rapport 0-1/2 1-1 aa 1/2-1/2 3.5 Oparin 1/2-1/2 0-0 1/2-1/2 aa 2.0

In Pool B Wojtaszek, who was in the lead, drew his game with Oparin, whereas Richard Rapport defeated Fedoseev, catching Wojtaszek in the lead. Tomorrow Wojtaszek and Rapport will play the tiebreaks to decide who advances to the semis.  The tiebreaks consist of two rapid games with time control 15+10. If still tied, the players play two Blitz games with time control 3+2. If still tied, there is the Armageddon. In the Armageddon game, white starts with 5 minutes, black with 4. Black has drawn odds.

 

 Pool C 1 2 3 4 PTS Aronian aa 1/2-1/2 1-1 1-1/2 4.5 Dubov 1/2 aa 1/2-1 0-1/2 3.0 Keymer 0-0 1/2-0 aa 1/2-1/2 1.5 Gujrathi 0-1/2 1-1/2 1/2-1/2 aa 3.0

In Pool C everything was already decided, with Levon Aronian unreachable at 4.0/5 before today's round. Levon drew quickly with Daniil Dubov. Vidit and Keymer drew their game as well.

 Pool D 1 2 3 4 PTS So aa 1/2-1 1/2-1/2 1-1/2 4.0 Dominguez 1/2-0 aa 1/2-1 1-1 4.0 Harikrishna 1/2 1/2-0 aa 1/2-1/2 2.5 Shirov 0-1/2 0-0 1/2-1/2 aa 1.5

In pool D So drew with Harikrishna, but Leinier Dominguez defeated Shirov, catching Welsey on top with 4.0/5.

 

Tomorrow, at 9 AM EST - 15:00 Berlin (CET) - 14:00 UTC, the two matches Wojtaszek-Rapport and So-Dominguez, to decide the last two semifinalists.