On the evening of November 15 (Vietnam time), Le Quang Liem (Elo 2,729) returned for the second standard game against Donchenko (Elo 2,641).

Holding the white pieces, Liem opened with aggressive and confident play, keeping his opponent on edge early in the match.

Notably, at move 8, he forced Donchenko into a deep think, freezing the German grandmaster for nearly 20 minutes before he could make his next move.

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Le Quang Liem displays great composure during the match. Photo: FIDE

As the game progressed, Donchenko gradually gained the upper hand, winning a pawn advantage and entering the middle game with better material.

This marked the most critical moment of the round.

Yet Liem responded with impressive precision, navigating complex positions and finding key defensive resources.

In the endgame, the German player had a clear material edge with three extra pawns, seemingly heading for a win.

However, Liem’s calm and resourceful play neutralized all threats, allowing him to recapture all three pawns and balance the position - forcing Donchenko to settle for a draw.

With both players tied 1–1 after two standard games, the match will now be decided in the rapid and blitz tie-breaks on November 16, determining who will advance to the quarterfinals of the 2025 Chess World Cup.

Dai Nam