Aronian, five others taking part in World Rapid & Blitz Championships
King Salman World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2017 kicked off on Tuesday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Five of the 15 total rapid chess rounds took place yesterday in the men’s tournament in participation of 134 players, including six representatives from Armenia, the National Olympic Committee reported.
In the first round, Levon Aronian drew with Kiril Georgiev and in the second round the Armenian star even lost. He could only add two draws and one win in the subsequent rounds, collecting a total of 2.5 points.
Other Armenian players registered the following results: Sergei Movsesian scored 3.5 points, Gabriel Sargsyan and Tigran Petrosyan collected 3 points each, Zaven Andriasian and Hrant Melkumyan got 2.5 points apiece.
Baadur Jobava and Vladimir Fedoseev are leading the open tournament with 4.5 points each.
100 chess players, including four Armenian players, are taking part in women’s championship. After five speed chess rounds played yesterday, Chinese Ju Wenjun is leading the women’s segment.
The next five speed chess rounds are scheduled for Wednesday, with the concluding five rounds to be held on 28 December.