We've quickly entered a closed position where Yangyi has a space advantage on the queenside. While Yangyi has the initiative, Niemann's position remains solid, and he only needs a draw to ensure a match win.
Play now revolve around the queenside, with Yangyi retaining his small initiative due to his space advantage and piece activity. Niemann is not in any particular danger for now, but needs to play precisely from here.
Niemann has successfully defended against Yangyi's pressure for now. While there are still a lot of pieces in play, Niemann has managed to maintain stability.
Niemann responds to Yangyi's break in the center with a counterattack against Yangyi's pawn structure. While this essentially a pawn sacrifice, taking the material would give Yangyi clear weaknesses and a passive position.
With Niemann's decision, he may be able to gain an initiative!
When the dust settles, Niemann has managed to put his pieces on superior squares while also posing difficulties against Yangyi's kingside. Niemann has taken control over the position, and Yangyi will have to hope for a big mistake in order to gain winning chances from here!
Yangyi's king has been left completely exposed, and it's now only a matter of time before Niemann breaks through. Even if Yangyi manages to hold on against the pressure, Niemann only needs a draw to ensure his advancement, making this position all the more difficult.
Yangyi sees no other option than to trade queens, but this will leave him a pawn down in the ensuing endgame. Winning this position seems close to impossible for Yangyi from here, and Niemann is closing in on the match victory.
Niemann advances to the round of 4!
A precise break in the center in the middlegame was all that was needed for Niemann to gain complete control over this game. After finding the precise way to neutralize Yangyi's initiative, Niemann had no issues with removing any threat against his position and quickly went for a dangerous counterattack.
From there, Niemann used his initiative to force a clearly drawn endgame, allowing him to ensure a draw to win the armageddon tiebreaker. Yangyi will keep fighting in the loser's bracket, looking to be in great shape heading into the final rounds.