 The matches of the penultimate round saw the United States and Ukraine winning to reach the final round tied for the first place with 18 match points each.The United States beat Georgia 2½-1½ thanks to the wins scored by Wesley So and Sam Shankland on the lower boards.Sam Shankland was the first to score a full point after beating Tornike Sanikidze with the White pieces in a game in which he played a novelty on move 16 that allowed him to quickly win a pawn and get rid of his bad bishop at the same time (see diagram).