2022 Meltwater Champions Chess Tour Kicks Off

Ian Nepomniachtchi and Andrey Esipenko are in the leading group.

The Airthings Masters, the first event of the 2022 Meltwater Champions Chess Tour, started on Chess24. The tournament is taking place on 19-26 February. 

Sixteen participants will play the 4-day round-robin Prelims, and then the best eight participants will qualify for the knock-out stage.   

In the Prelims, there are 3 points for a win and 1 for a draw. The total prize fund is $150,000, with $750 for a win and $250 for a draw in the Prelims. 

Ding Liren has taken the lead after four rounds by scoring 10 points. Ian Nepomniachtchi took 9 points and Andrey Esipenko 8 points. Both Russian grandmasters won against the world champion Magnus Carlsen on the first day.

Standings after Round 4:

1. Ding Liren - 10 points, 2. Ian Nepomniachtchi - 9, 3. Andrey Esipenko - 8, 4-7. Hans Moke Niemann, Eric Hansen, Levon Aronian, Vincent Keymer - 7, 8. Jan-Krzysztof Duda - 6, 9-10. Vladislav Artemiev, Anish Giri - 5, 11-13. Magnus Carlsen, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Le Quang Liem - 4, 14. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov - 3, 15. Praggnanandhaa R - 1, 16. Alexandra Kosteniuk - 0.

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