Magnus Carlsen and Vladislav Artemiev Lead King Salman World Blitz Championship
Kateryna Lagno and Sarasadat Khademalsharieh head the women's section.
The King Salman World Blitz Championship started in the Manege in St. Petersburg.
The first day started with a moment of silence to Eduard Lvovich Dubov (1938-2018), famous chess arbiter and mathematician.
FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich made a symbolic first move in the Carlsen-Popov game.
There were 12 rounds played in the Open Section and 9 rounds in the Women's Section.
Magnus Carlsen (Norway) and Vladislav Artemiev (Russia) are tied for first with 9.5 points in the Open Section. Half a point behind are Dmitry Andreikin, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Peter Svidler (all Russia), Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Poland), and Anish Giri (Netherlands).
Kateryna Lagno (Russia) and Sarasadat Khademalsharieh (Iran) seized the lead in the Women's Championship with 7.5 points. Ju Wenjun, Lei Tingjie, and Tan Zhongyi (all from China) are half a point behind.
The final 9 rounds of the Open Section and 8 rounds of the Women's Section will be played on Sunday, December 30. The closing ceremony will take place on the same day.
The rounds begin at 3 p.m.; the games on the final day start at 2 p.m.
