The Round of 16 and Quarterfinals were played on the second day of the European Online Blitz Chess Championship. The pairing was determined by the final standings in the qualifying stage.

The participants battled it out in four-game matches with the time control  3’+2” followed by an Armageddon if needed.  

The Round of 16 saw many tightly contested matches. Georg Meier (GER) (pictured below) advanced to the next stage after winning a very tense Armageddon game against Radoslaw Wojtaszek (POL) (3:2). Alexei Shirov (ESP) eliminated Mikhail Demidov (RUS) (3:2), whereas Levan Pantsulaia (GEO) beat Mustafa Yilmaz (TUR) (3:2). In the Armenian derby between Manuel Petrosyan and Robert Hovhannisyan, the former also prevailed in the Armageddon game (3:2).

Photo: John Saunders

Aleksandar Indjic (SRB) secured his slot at the Quarterfinals after winning 3 games in a row against Deniz Ozen (TUR), the only IM at this stage. Matthias Bluebaum (GER) took down Vladimir Onischuk (UKR) (2½:1½).

David Navara (CZE) (pictured below), a member of the Wasko HETMAN GKS Katowice, bested Eltaj Safarli (AZB) (3:1), while Gawain Jones (ENG) knocked out Deac Bogdan Daniel (ROU) (2½:1½).

Photo: Niki Riga

In the Quarterfinals, David Navara, Gawain Jones, Alexei Shirov, and Matthias Bluebaum prevailed over Levan Pantsulaia, Manuel Petrosyan, Georg Meier, and Aleksandar Indjic respectively, and progressed to the semis.

The semi-finals and final are played today (20th Dec); Alexei Shirov takes on Matthias Bluebaum while David Navara squares off with Gawain Jones.

The spectators can follow the games live with English commentary provided by WGM Keti Tsatsalashvili, GM Marcin Tazbir, and WFM Maria Leks and Polish commentary provided by Infoszach.

 For more information please contact office@katowice2020.eu   

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