Chinese Rapid Championship quarterfinals: Xiao beats Ding 3½–2½

Xiao Tong eliminated former world champion Ding Liren in the Chinese Rapid Championship quarterfinals in Shaoxing on 4 November, winning their match in a blitz tiebreak. The fifth edition runs from 2 November to 6, with 24 players competing in a knockout format. ChessBase said all eight rating favorites had reached the quarterfinals, but three of the tournament’s four highest-rated players went out at that stage.

Xiao and Ding drew all four rapid games and the first blitz game, which uses a shorter clock. Ding gained a clear advantage playing Black in the second blitz game, but Xiao turned the position around and won as both players ran short of time.

Xu, Lu and Yu advance

Xu and Wang each won a game after major mistakes in their first and third games. Xu’s win with White in the second game made the difference, and he drew the fourth to advance. Lu eliminated fourth seed Bu in another close match.

Defending champion Yu won his opening game against Bai with White and drew the remaining three. He faced his greatest difficulties in the fourth game, in a complicated position with a queen and bishop against a rook, bishop and knight, but secured the draw needed to advance. He is the highest-rated player left in the competition.

The semifinal pairings

Yu is scheduled to face Xu in the semifinals, while Xiao is set to play Lu.

In the 24-player knockout, eight seeds received byes to the round of 16, while the other 16 players contested a preliminary round. Xiao previously beat Zeng Chongsheng 3½–2½ after a blitz tiebreak. Each match consists of four rapid games at 15 minutes per player plus 10 seconds per move; if tied, two blitz games follow at three minutes plus two seconds per move. If the match remains tied, an Armageddon game gives White five minutes and Black four, with a draw advancing Black; two-second increments apply after move 60.