2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

[Chris Rice]

Report on the final day of the rapid.

"It was also revealed today that Dubov had been part of Carlsen's team for preparing for the 2018 world championship match. "I was in his team, so probably he gave me too many lessons!" Dubov said."

There is also a really nice game showing how Iranian rising star Alireza Firouzja tactically outwitted Peter Svidler plus Ju Wenjun winning the Women's title.

[David Robertson]

Fire on the Fjord!

Carlsen - Shirov (blitz rd 5), starting soon. But fizzled out (0.5)

Firouzja (remember him?) slaughtered Svidler again to take the lead with 5.5/6. Lead shared with forum-favourite, Jobava, who finds Blitz a whole sight more congenial than hanging around thinking in Rapid

Firouzja wins the shoot-out comfortably to take sole lead (6.5/7). Sheesh, that was impressive!

[Leonard Barden]

Firouzja outclassed Jobava and is now the sole leader on 6.5/7. He was winning the draw against Aronian but Levon escaped with a perpetual.

Carlsen 5.5 v Firouzja 6.5 about to start in round 8. The BIG CLASH! DON'T MISS IT!

[David Robertson]

Carlsen - Firouzja 1-0 Crushed

[Leonard Barden]

Yes, he didn't get into the game. Now we'll see if the disappointment gets to him in the coming rounds.

[David Robertson]

Now we'll see if the disappointment gets to him in the coming rounds

Prescient! It has. He's just dropped a piece to Wang Hao, a 4NCL Sunday morning blunder (Div 4 standard)

Poor lad - he's just blundered hopelessly in a R+B v R ending v. Nepo

[John Moore]

Good recovery from Gawain having started with 0/3!

[Leonard Barden]

In sixth place in the women's world blitz with 6.5/9 there's a totally unknown 14-year-old Russian, Leya Garifullina, who is currently performing 400 points above her 2100 rating and in the last round, with Black. impressively outplayed former world champion Stefanova. Watch out for her today.

[Leonard Barden]

HUGE recovery by Gawain. After a dismal performance in the rapid and starting with 0/3 in the blitz, he is now on a wonderful run of 9.5/11, is within range of the leading group, and has White v Jakovenko in round 15.

[Leonard Barden]

While I was typing the last post it's now Jones 1-0 Jakovenko! Go the lone Englishman!

[Leonard Barden]

After 15 rounds, six to go:

Carlsen 12.5

Duda 12

Nakamura Gelfand Svidler Golubov JONES 10.5

[John Upham]

While I was typing the last post it's now Jones 1-0 Jakovenko! Go the lone Englishman!

Gawain now on board 2 versus Jan-Krzysztof Duda !!

[Leonard Barden]

Round 16 starting very shortly, live on chessbomb and chess 24

Golubov v Carlsen

Duda v JONES

Gelfand v Svidler

Andreikin (10) v Nakamura

[John Upham]

While I was typing the last post it's now Jones 1-0 Jakovenko! Go the lone Englishman!

Gawain now on board 2 versus Jan-Krzysztof Duda !!

See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVQgoSb8e4A for commentary

[Leonard Barden]

Alas, crushed in 22 moves one move from mate after missing 20...Rc6! equal.