American Shankland went on the offensive against Russia's Peter Svidler today and it paid off, with Shankland's white pieces putting the black king in checkmate and giving him a 1.5-0.5 victory.

India's Gujrathi likewise advanced following a draw yesterday.

In his case, Gujrathi overcame Azerbaijan's Vasif Durarbayli.

Gujrathi will play either fifth seed Alexander Grischuk of Russia or Poland's Jan-Krzysztof Duda next, while Shankland will play one of Maxime Vachier-Lagrave - the seventh seed from France - or Russian 10th seed Sergey Karjakin.

Their matches are among the six headed to tiebreaks, as is world champion Magnus Carlsen's clash with the Russian Andrey Esipenko.

Iran's Amin Tabatabaei recovered from a game-one loss to beat Armenian Haik Mikaeli Martirosyan today and level that tie.

In the Women's World Cup - also taking place in Sochi - three of the four semi-finalists are now known.

Alexandra Kosteniuk completed a 2-0 victory over fellow Russian Valentina Gunina and China's Tan Zhongyi knocked out the second seed Kateryna Lagno - another Russian - to set up a last-four clash with Kosteniuk.

Top seed Aleksandra Goryachkina of Russia beat Kazakhstan's Dinara Saduakassova today for a 1.5-0.5 win overall, and will play either Georgian Nana Dzagnidze or Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine.

Their match will be decided via a tiebreak tomorrow.

Kosteniuk and Tan have qualified for next year's Women's Candidates Tournament thanks to reaching the semi-finals.