2022 FIDE Grand Prix: Aronian, Nakamura advance to final
GM Levon Aronian and GM Hikaru Nakamura comfortably neutralized the challenges of GM Leinier Dominguez and GM Richard Rapport respectively in the second game of the semifinal matches to set up an all-American clash in the final of the first leg of the 2022 FIDE Grand Prix in Berlin, Chess.com reported.
Playing with the black pieces, Aronian surprisingly employed the relatively quiet Hungarian Defense, while Nakamura repeated one of his pet plans against Rapport's Kings Indian Attack. Neither game significantly threatened the one-point lead Aronian and Nakamura scored in first game of their respective matches.
The two-game final match will take place February 15-16, with tiebreakers on February 17 if needed.