VietNamNet Bridge – The two top Vietnamese chess stars, Le Quang Liem and Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son, are scheduled to take part in the 2014 World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships from June 15-21 at the Dubai Chess and Culture Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Quang Liem (right) and Truong Son meet at the 2014 HDBank Cup International Open Chess Tournament.

It will be the third of this format for the World Rapid and Blitz to be organised under the FIDE umbrella. The first tournament was held in 2012 in Astana, Kazakhstan and the second was in 2013 in Khanty Mansisk, Russia.

The week-long event features the participation of 124 players from 46 countries, who will compete for world rapid and blitz titles. Cash prize totalling US$400,000 will be at stake with US$40,000 for the winner of each tournament.

Quang Liem was crowned world blitz champion at last year’s competition with 20.5 points and earned a fourth-place finish in the rapid section. Meanwhile, his teammate Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son finished 16th and fifth in the rapid and blitz chess events, respectively.

The appearances of world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway and his predecessor Vishwanathan Anand of India at this year’s tournament promise to pose tough challenges to Liem on his way to world blitz title defence.

The rapid championship will consist of 15 rounds to be held in the first three days, followed by 21 rounds of the blitz championship.

Source: Nhan Dan