World Rapid Chess Championship Kicks Off in Samarkand
Russian chess players are in the pursuit of leaders.
Tuesday, December 26, the World Rapid Chess Championship began in the ultramodern Congress Center of Samarkand. The tournament is played to the Swiss system (13 rounds in the open section, 11 in the women's section) with a time control of 15 minutes plus a 10-second increment per move, starting with move one. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich and the Uzbekistan Chess Federation President Alisher Sadullayev made the symbolic first moves.
In the open section, Magnus Carlsen (Norway), Santosh Vidit, Arjun Erigaisi (both India), Ivan Cheparinov (Bulgaria), and Yu Yangyi (China) have scored 4.5 points out of 5. Twelve players are half a point behind, including the Russians Daniil Dubov, Alexander Shimanov, and Pavel Ponkratov.
The women's tournament goes into round five. Nurgyul Salimova (Bulgaria) and Zhu Jiner (China) are in the lead with a perfect score. Anastasia Bodnaruk of Russia is half a point behind. Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova (USA), Umida Omonova (Uzbekistan), Rameshbabu Vaishali (India), Zhai Mo (China), and Gunay Mammadova (Azerbaijan) also have 3.5 points. Valentina Gunina and Kateryna Lagno of Russia are in the group of participants that share 3 points.
Tournament on Chess-Results
Photo album of Eteri Kublashvili
Official website
Tournament page
Photos by Vladimir Barsky
