28 December 2018

Seven Players Lead King Salman World Rapid Championship

Ju Wenjun maintains leadership in women's section.

Photo by Lennart Ootes
Photo by Lennart Ootes


The King Salman World Rapid and Blitz Championship continues in St. Petersburg. Ten rounds are played in the Open Section; eight rounds are in the books in the Women's Section.

Before the start of the day, the Chief Arbiter Laurent Freyd congratulated Kateryna Lagno on her birthday and brought her flowers.

The leading group in the Open Section increased to seven players. Ian Nepomniachtchi, Dmitry Andreikin, Vladislav Artemiev, Daniil Dubov, Maxim Matlakov (all Russia), Wang Hao, and Yu Yangyi (both China) are ahead with 7.5 points after 10 games. Half a point behind them are 11 players, including the World Champion Magnus Carlsen.

The Women's World Champion Ju Wenjun remained a sole leader of the Women's Section with 7 points out of 8. She won six games and drew with two ex-World Champions Tan Zhongyi (China) and Mariya Muzychuk (Ukraine). Mariya is on clear second place with 6.5 points, seven players have 6 points.

The World Rapid Champions will be determined on Friday, December 28. On the concluding day of the Rapid Championship, five rounds will be played in the Open Section, and four rounds – in the Women's section.

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