The 2nd set of playoffs (for matched in round 2 that finished 1-1) was even more dramatic than the first set. A number of top seeds were eliminated including Hans Niemann and Nihil Sarin. With 27 matches to be decided, it was clear than a number of matches would go well into the playoffs. Michael Adams took 8 playoff games to dispatch Ivan Cheperinov, although his play in the final two 3m+2s games was immaculate.
The Mamedov v Svane game went one game further, resulting in the first 'Bid' Armageddon game in World Cup History. In this format Whites starts with 4m+2s but both players bid a lower starting time for Black. The player with the lowest bid takes the Black pieces but has draw odds. Mamedov bid 3 mins (which was the lowest), so he started with 3m+2s, while Svane had to win the game to advance to the next round. In the end Svane did win, eliminating Mamdov.
Australia's last representative Temur Kuybokarov took 3rd seed Praggnanandhaa all the way to 5m+3s before losing the final two games. He was on the verge of causing a big upset, being up 1-0 in the 2nd playoff match but a fight back from Prag ended Temur's tournament.
Tomorrow is the first game of Round 3. The tournament is down to 64 players with a lot of matchups being quite close in rating. I expect more drawn games than in the previous rounds, but with the Sofia rule in operation (no draw offers before move 31) they won't be easy draws
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