Masterful: Le Quang Liem becomes new world blitz champion. — Photo vietnamchess.vn

HA NOI (VNS) — Vietnamese international grandmaster Le Quang Liem became the first Vietnamese chess player to take the Blitz title at the World Blitz and Rapid Chess Championships which concluded in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, on Monday.

After two days of competition, the event's seed No 5 Liem had 14 wins, 13 draws and three losses to secure first place with 20.5 points and receive a US$40,000 cash prize.

Alexander Grischuk of Russia and Ukraine's Ruslan Ponomariov were runners-up.

Another Vietnamese player, Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son, ranked fifth with 19.5 points.

Sixty chess players from 18 countries fought for the Blitz title.

On Saturday, Liem who has an Elo rating of 2712 stood fourth in the rapid event with 10 points after 15 matches.

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan won with 11.5 points. Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia came second with 11 points, and Russian Alexander Grischuk third with 10.5 points.

The event took place from June 6-10. Total prize money of $400,000 was divided equally between the two tournaments. — VNS