Le Quang Liem (R).—Photo chess world

HA NOI (VNS)– Vietnamese hopeful Le Quang Liem is locked in a stalemate in the first leg of the second-round match at the Chess World Cup 2013 in Tromso, Norway.

Liem, the world No 42 with an Elo of 2702, started with black and managed a draw with Francisco Vallejo Pons of Spain, world No 41 with an Elo of 2706, after 35 moves and put the two players on equal terms in the return leg today.

Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son, the other Vietnamese player, started with white but only earned a draw against Russian Dmitry Andreikin, who ranks 29th with an Elo of 2716. Both hold no advantage in the second leg today. – VNS