Quarterfinalists Spotted at Cap D'Agde

The rating favorites won through to the Quarterfinal stage of Cap D'Agde.
It's amazing how ratings play a part even in rapid games, nay, even blitz games. Karpov beat 14 year old Hou Yifan to advance to the knock out stage.

Update: Karpov beat Caruana to advance to the Semi-finals. The young teen put up stiff resistance and the regular rapid games ended at 1-1 with a win each. Karpov, who is playing a gruelling schedule (yesterday's tie-break games against Yifan and today's games) beat back Caruana challenge in the 3 minutes+2 seconds increment games.

Radjabov suffered a tragic loss to Ivanchuk in the Quarterfinals. More details about it after this game.



So, Radjabov had a won position with his Queen for Rook and Bishop. But Ivanchuk defended tenaciously to draw the game. Radjabov lost the next two blitz games probably out of the shock of the "silly" draw in a winning position. What a pity!


1/2-1/2

Quarter finals

Carlsen vs Xianghzhi
Caruana vs Karpov 3.5 - 2.5
Ivanchuk vs Radjabov 3-1
Nakamura vs Vachier Lagrave

Leaders in the Group Stage

Group A
Caruana 5.5
Ivanchuk 5
Vachier Lagrave, Xiangzhi 4.5

Group B
Carlsen, Nakamura 5.5
Radjabov 5.0
Karpov, Yifan 3.5