FIDE WORLD CUP 2017 FINAL

The final match of the FIDE World Cup started in the beautiful playing venue in Biltmore Hotel in Tbilisi on 23rd of September.

Playing venue of the final match of the FIDE World Cup 2017. Photo by: Amruta Mokal
The playing venue of the final match of FIDE World Cup 2017. Photo by: Amruta Mokal

Levon Aronian (ARM, 2802) and Ding Liren (CHN, 2771) became the finalists after long and exhausting fights. Both the players reached their final spots in the tie-break games. Aronian took the victory against Vachier-Lagrave Maxime (FRA, 2804) in Armageddon game where he had the white pieces and had to win the game while Ding Liren reserved his final spot with the result 3.5-2.5 against Wesley So (USA, 2792).

The finalists are competing for the first place of this prestigious Championship in 4 games match with classical time control (90 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with 30 seconds added after each move). Ding Liren and Levon Aronian already qualified for the FIDE Candidates tournament which will take place on March 2018 and will decide who will get the chance to play for the title of World Chess Champion.

The Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs of Georgia Tariel Khechikashvili made the first move in the first game in the final and finalists were ready to start the battle. Aronian had the white pieces which gave him the small starting advantage, but after three and half hours of play the game ended in a draw.

The first game of the final match of FIDE World Cup 2017. Photo by: Anastasia Karlovich
The first game of the final match of FIDE World Cup 2017. Photo by: Anastasia Karlovich

The second game of the match started yesterday with opposite color of pieces. Aronian seemed very convincing the whole game, but he couldn’t find the winning path in the engame, and after 75 moves and five and half hours of playing the game finished as draw.

The second game of the final match of FIDE World Cup 2017. Photo by: Anastasia Karlovich
The second game of the final match of FIDE World Cup 2017. Photo by: Anastasia Karlovich

The struggle continues today when the third game of the final match will be played. The game starts at 3 pm (local time) and the live broadcast can be followed through the official website of the Championship or through the ECU website, section LIVE.

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