VietNamNet Bridge – International Master Pham Le Thao Nguyen continued her good performance at the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Vietnamese masters Pham Le Thao Nguyen (right) and Le Quang Liem are competing with high performance at the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. — Photo khampha.vn

On the second day of the competition on Wednesday, the Vietnamese secured two wins, two draws and one loss to gain seven points and place fifth in the women’s rapid chess category ranking.

In the first match, Nguyen, who is the No 36 seed, made a bang when she beat two-time world champion, Stefanova Antoaneta of Bulgaria.

She then drew against Grandmaster (GM) Kosteniuk Alexandra, of Russia, who is the No 2 seed.

Nguyen then won against GM Khotenashvili Bela from Georgia before she tied against GM Goryachkina Aleksandra from Russia.

Nguyen’s only loss was to Chinese GM, Ju Wenjun, who now tops the table with eight points.

All of Nguyen’s rivals had a higher Elo rating than her on the second day.

The second position in the category went to Alexandra, followed by GM Elina Danielian of Armenia.

Three other female Vietnamese athletes at the event were Asian champion, Vo Thi Kim Phung, who now ranks at No 22, WGM Hoang Thi Bao Tram who is sitting at No 33 and WGM Nguyen Thi Mai Hung who is placed at No 81.

In the Open pool, Vietnam No 1 Le Quang Liem jumped to No 37, after his two wins, two draws and one loss.

The former world champion, Liem, has six points, two less than leading GM, Vladimir Fedoseev of Russia.

GM Anand Viswanathan of India is second and GM Peter Svidler of Russia is at third place.

Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam was not at his best in the completion. He was in the lower half of the ranking, with five points; that places him at No 80.

The competitors will play five matches on the third and last day of the rapid chess event on December 28 before moving to the blitz chess tournament. 

Source: VNS