First Games of King Salman World Rapid Championship played in Saint Petersburg
Three players lead open event, Ju Wenjun heads women's tournament.
The King Salman World Rapid Championships started on December 26 in St. Petersburg. There were five rounds in the Open Section and four rounds in the Women's Section.
His Highness Prince Fahad bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Mousaad Al Saud, Adviser to the President of General Sports Authority of Saudi Arabia, made an honorary first move for the World Champion Magnus Carlsen in his second round game. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich started the first round game between Guliskhan Nakhbayeva and Anna Muzychuk.
The World Champion began the tournament with two defeats. He lost on time in the first game against the Ukrainian Adam Tukhaev, and then lost the second game to the young Uzbek player Shamsiddin Vokhidov. However, after that Carlsen won three games in a row.
After five rounds, the Open Section is led by Ian Nepomniachtchi, Dmitry Andreikin (both Russia), and the 15-year-old Alireza Firouzja (Iran) with 4.5 points each. 15 players scored 4 points.
The Women's World Champion Ju Wenjun (China) took the lead in the Women's Section with four straight wins. Half a point behind her are Anna Muzychuk, Mariya Muzychuk (both Ukraine), Tan Zhongyi (China), Dinara Saduakassova, Zhansaya Abdumalik (both Kazakhstan), and Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria).
On Thursday, December 27, the tournament will continue with five more rounds in the Open Section and four more rounds in the Women's Section.
