Interesting GP finale

Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi moved closer to the 4th Grand Prix title, and is set to face Chinese Wei Yi in the finals.

Nepomniachtchi, the No. 4 seed, made the opening look easy in defeating top-seeded Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France, 1.5-0.5, in the semifinals and advance to the final against 20-year-old Wei Yi, who beat Czech top gun David Navara, 2.5-1.5. in tie-break playoff.

With Vachier-Lagrave out of the running, the final match holds historical significance for these three players.

If the favorite Nepomniachtchi wins, as the odds suggests, he will become the second Russian to secure a spot for next year’s eight-player Candidates tournament. Earlier, compatriot Alexander Grischuk has qualified..

If the world No. 22 Wei Yi (who is on top of his game), wins his first major title, he surges to a career high in the world rankings, and Vachier-Lagrave books a Candidates ticket to Ekaterinburg. At Jerusalem, the young Chinese distinguished himself by essaying sacrificial lines reminiscent of the great Mikhail Tal.