4th FIDE Grand Prix, Jerusalem, 11-23 December 2019

[JustinHorton]

Yesterday's Grunfeld theme continues today.

[JustinHorton]

Extraordinary collapse by Navara, total disaster in the second game. Wei Yi through to the final.

[Tim Harding]

It looks as if Navara (a) was tired from his long defence in the first game; (b) careless in the opening.
The position after 6...c5 is a bit unusual but had occurred in Grischuk-So at the Leuven blitz last year when White replied 7 Bg2. Wei Yi played 7 Ne5 setting a trap which he had perhaps prepared. Black should reply 7...Bd6 and seems fine.
I only found one precedent, Kharlov-Dreev, Fuegen 2006, where 7...Be7 8 Bg2 was played but 8 e4 would be playable there also (though less strong) and maybe Wei Yi had prepared that.
After 7...Nbd7? 8 e4 in Wei-Navara, White already has a big advantage because taking the pawn would be even worse than what happened. The Chinese GM spent only a minute and a half on 8 e4.
I am quite pleased with the outcome, as I don't think Navara would have stood a chance against Nepo' but Wei Yi may be able to do it.
I think a Candidates with Alekseenko in the field instead of MVL would be less interesting (and probably very painful for Alekseenko).

[Mick Norris]

Rest day today; wonder if MVL will be helping Wei Yi with opening preparation for the final

[JustinHorton]

There were some jokes to that effect on the Chess24 commentary yestersay

[Tim Harding]

Wei Yi rejects a threefold repetition at move 31 and must have missed drawing chances late; now he is now going to lose.

[Matt Mackenzie]

MVL will not have enjoyed watching that, I suspect.

[Mick Norris]

Nepo wins the event and qualifies for the Candidates, will be interesting to see how he gets on

Presumably Alekseenko gets the wildcard

Pete Doggers

[Chris Rice]

Filatov confirms Alekseenko gets the wild card place despite the growing pressure for an MVL-Alekseenko play off match for it.

Sutovsky's take on it for FIDE via FB:

"I feel there is a gross misunderstanding about the wild-card to Candidates. FIDE is not selecting a player to be awarded with the wild-card. Organizers are. And while there are several brand names that could be selected, it is just natural that the Russian organizers want to have a Russian player. And yes, I agree that the practice of providing a wild-card into the Candidates shall be abandoned altogether, and I will do my utmost to get rid of it - as was already done with Women's Candidates earlier this year."

[Chris Rice]

Play off begging letter from MVL's manager sent to the RCF. Difficult to see the Russians agreeing to this.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Its a shame, but rules are rules and MVL knew what they were when this started.

He will get future chances to become a Candidate - don't mess them up!