HA NOI  (VNS) — Grandmaster Le Quang Liem failed to defend his world title at the FIDE World Blitz Championship that wrapped up in Dubai yesterday.

The Vietnamese, seeded No 8, ended up with 14 points after 21 rounds to rank fourth in the event, while his teammate Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son finished 24th with 12.5 points.

Current world No 1 Carlsen Magnus of Norway won the tournament with 17 points, followed by Nepomniachtchi Ian of Russia and Nakamura Hikaru of the US, both finishing with 16 points.

Magnus also won the FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship that ended on Wednesday. — VNS