Quang Liem lost to the Indian prodigy

On the morning of November 17, Hanoi time, Quang Liem lost to Praggnanandhaa 0-3 in the third round of the Champions Chess Tour Finals. In the two previous confrontations in the two main stages, the score was 2.5-0.5, with each person winning one game. This time the match also ended a quick game of chess, when Vietnamese players lost all three games.

In the first game, the 17-year-old player held the white piece, sometimes winning up to four pawns in the middle. He won after 41 moves by changing the queen. In the second game, the position was more balanced in the middle, but Quang Liem ventured to push the king's wing well, then counterattacked and lost after 46 moves. The 31-year-old player had nothing to lose in the third game, continued to push well in front of the king, and was attacked by a citadel leading to defeat on move 53.

This is the first match that Quang Liem did not earn a bonus after three days of competition, because he lost right from the fast chess. Coincidentally, the remaining three pairs also ended after only three games. Magnus Carlsen beat Shakhriyar Mamedyarov 3-0, while Wesley So and Jan-Krzysztof Duda beat Erigaisi Arjun and Anish Giri 2.5-0.5 respectively.

After three rounds, Carlsen and Duda led with nine perfect points, equivalent to 22,500 USD in prize money. Quang Liem, Giri and Praggnanandhaa all ranked third with 10,000 USD.

In the fourth round, which took place from 3 am on November 18, Quang Liem, with the advantage of holding white in the first game, met Duda. The remaining matches include Praggnanandhaa - So, Giri - Carlsen, Mamedyarov - Erigaisi.

In each pair, two players play four quick games, winning one point, drawing half a point, losing no points. Whoever gets 2.5 or more points wins the match. If there is a 2-2 draw in fast chess, the two players will tie-break two games of blitz chess. If still tied, they play a game of armageddon to decide the winner.