Top Vietnamese chess player Le Quang Liem has become one of three players to reach the blitz event finals at the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan held from July 6-10.

Playing a steady game, Liem, the world No 51, ranked second in the qualifying round of the blitz event with 14.5 points after 22 matches.

Russian Dmitry Andreikin took the lead with 16.5 points while third place went to compatriot Nikola Chadaev with 14 points.

The qualifying round of both rapid and blitz chess events finished with six players joining 16 other international grandmasters in the finals.

Liem will compete against Norway's Magnus Carlsen, Israel's Boris Gelfand, Russia's Sergey Karjakin, Bulgaria's Veselin Topalov and Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine. — VNS