Leinier Domínguez defeated Hao and advanced to the quarterfinals!

September 18, 2019

The Grand Master Leinier Domínguez achieved an impressive victory in the match against Chinese Wang Hao (2726) by 4.5-3.5 and managed to advance to the quarterfinals of the World Chess Championship, which will be held in Khanty-Mansyisk.

The duel extended to blitz games and the Cuban, who plays for the United States Federation, showed admirable recovery power to overcome the scoreboard disadvantage on two occasions.

In the rapid games (at 25 minutes), Hao took the lead, surpassing Leinier with the white pieces in 49 moves of an English Opening. The Asian's passed pawns on the c and d files kept the Cuban under tension the entire time, who was forced to acknowledge defeat because the promotion was inevitable.

The setback forced Leinier to seek victory at all costs in the second rapid game. With the white pieces, the Cuban faced an unusual Petroff Defense.

The duel seemed to be tilting toward Hao, because he achieved an uncomfortable pawn on the d file. At that moment, Black chose to give up a rook for two pieces (knight, bishop) on d4. This plan did not work and Leinier got out of danger with a promising position, because a few moves later he took the pawn on d2 and managed to, in serious time trouble, win the queen endgame, in which he had a pawn advantage.

Faced with the draw, it was necessary to resort to the second part of the rapid games, these at 10 minutes. With the white pieces, Hao again took the lead in the match, winning in 76 moves of an English Opening, four knights variation. Leinier was lost in the endgame, but continued playing, because his opponent had almost no time on the clock. Hao's material superiority was immense, so the Cuban had to accept defeat.

Once again against the wall, Leinier again demonstrated his composure and won the second game, with the white pieces. This evened the score at three points and took the match to the blitz games.

In the first game at five minutes, Leinier achieved a pawn advantage in the rook endgame. Hao tried in every possible way to at least draw, but the Cuban played precisely and in 102 moves achieved victory. Then, in the last game, the Cuban controlled the position and after giving perpetual check obtained the half point that placed him in the quarterfinals of the Championship.