World Blitz Championship: Aronian in clear first after Day 1
GM Levon Aronian, the Armenian star-player who recently moved to and now represents the United States, finished day one of the World Blitz Chess Championship with 10/12 and in clear first, Chess.com reports.
Behind him are Egyptian GM Bassem Amin, the five-time African champion with 9.5/12, and 21-year-old Iranian GM Parham Maghsoodloo, with 9/12.
GM Haik Martirosyan of Armenia finished day one with 8.5/12, sharing the 4th-13th places, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports reported.
The World Blitz Chess Championship will conclude on Thursday. The marathon event was jam-packed with action as 179 participants in the open section played no fewer than 12 games in one day, and they will play another nine today.