World rapid chess championship: Anand in second place

Three Russians – Alexander Grischuk, Vladimir Fedoseev and Peter Svidler – and an Armenian, Tigran Petrosian are in the lead, on three points.

Action from day one of the World rapid chess championship in Riyadh.

Viswanathan Anand, with 2.5 points, was placed half-a-point behind the four joint leaders at the end of the third round of the World rapid chess championship at Riyadh on Tuesday.

Three Russians – Alexander Grischuk, Vladimir Fedoseev and Peter Svidler – and an Armenian, Tigran Petrosian are in the lead, on three points.

B. Adhiban and Vidit Gujrathi have two points apiece, while Pendyala Harikrishna is on 1.5.  Surya Shekhar Ganguly and S.P. Sethuraman have a point each.

In the women’s event, Dronavalli Harika is on 2.5 points, half-a-point behind the leaders – China’s Ju Wenjun, Tan Zhongyi, Lei Tingjie and Bela Khotenashvili of Georgia.

Among other Indian competitors, Padmini Rout is the best-placed with two points, while Eesha Karavade has 1.5 and S. Vijayalakshmi one point.

 

The standings (after three rounds): Men: 1-4. Alexander Grischuk (Rus), Vladimir Fedoseev (Rus), Peter Svidler (Rus) and Tigran Petrosian (Arm) 3; 5-22. Marin Bosiocic (Cro), Levan Pantsulaia (Geo), Gabriel Sargissian (Arm), Pavel Ponkratov (Rus), Martyn Kravtsiv (Ukr), Baadur Jobava (Geo), Laurent Fressinet (Fra), Wang Hao (Chn), Alexander Moiseenko (Ukr), Viswanathan Anand (Ind), Ni Hua (Chn), Aleksey Dreev (Rus), Luke McShane (Eng), Wang Yue (Chn), Eltaj Safarli (Aze), Ivan Cheparinov (Bul) and Sergei Movesesian (Arm) 2.5. Women: 1-4. Ju Wenjun (Chn), 2. Bela Khotenashvili (Geo), Tan Zhongyi (Chn) and Lei Tingjie (Chn) 3; 5-15. Sofia Gvetadze (Geo), Deimante Cornette (Ltu), Nana Dzanidze (Geo), Natalia Zhukova (Ukr), Turkan Mamedjarova (Aze), Elina Danielian (Arm), Elisabeth Paehtz (Ger), Dronavalli Harika (Ind), Pham Le Thao Nguyen (Vie), Marie Sebag (Fra) and Guo Qi (Chn) 2.5.