Indian Grandmaster Vaishali
Indian Grandmaster R Vaishali has reached the quarter-finals of the World Blitz Chess Championship by winning the women’s qualifier. After the stellar performance of Koneru Humpy, who won the gold medal and $60,000 prize, Vaishali won the hearts of fans with her game. She won in the women’s category by scoring 9.5 points out of 11.
Russia’s Kateryna Lagano came close to them with 8.5 points while the remaining six qualifiers had eight points. Hampi was eliminated after finishing ninth due to tiebreaker. In the open category, ten players were tied for first place, including world number one Magnus Carlsen. Carlsen drew six out of 13 matches and remained joint top after the qualifiers. Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi won the qualifier with 9.5 points.
Carlsen remained in third place
America’s Fabiano Caruana was second and Carlson was third. No player from India could reach the top eight. Arjun Erigesi won the first five rounds but could not maintain the momentum and had only seven points. R Praggnananda stood second with 8.5 marks. Vaishali will face China’s Zhu Jin’er in the quarter-finals. Vaishali defeated Grandmaster Nana Jagnidze of Georgia and Valentina Gunina of Russia.
It is noteworthy that after FIDE allowed players to play wearing jeans, world number one chess player Magnus Carlsen returned to the World Blitz Championship after being thrown out of the rapid category due to violation of the dress code. Five-time world champion Carlsen was fined $200 on Saturday after wearing jeans in violation of FIDE’s dress code.
(Input-PTI)
Read also
Leave India and Australia, this team can also enter the WTC final, know what is the equation
