St Louis Rapid online chess: Harikrishna in joint lead after 3 rounds

Indian Grandmaster P Harikrishna claimed a share of top position with Armenian GM Levon Aronian after posting two wins and a draw in three rounds of rapid competition in St Louis Rapid and Blitz online chess tournament.

India no.2 started with a win over US Grandmaster Leinier Dominiguez, before settling for a draw with Iranian prodigy Alireza Firouzja in games played late on Tuesday.

In third round, Harikrishna pulled off a victory over experienced Russian Alexander Grischuk in 41 moves.

World champion Magnus Carlsen, favourite to win title, was fifth with three points.

After a win over Hikaru Nakamura in his opener, Norwegian went down to Russia's Ian Nepomniachtchi in second round. A draw with Wesley So in third left world no.1 in fifth spot.

Harikrishna, coming from a good showing in FIDE Online Olympi, outwitted American in 51 moves with black pieces, to begin his campaign in elite 10-player event.

Indian ace will face Nepomniachtchi in fourth round, followed by games against Aronian and Carlsen late on Wednesday.

In each rapid game, a win is worth 2 points, and a draw is worth 1 point, while in blitz game, a win is worth 1 point and a draw fetches half a point.

10 players are competing for a USD 250,000 prize fund in nine rapid games and eighteen blitz games over five days of play.

tournament hosted by US-based St Louis Chess Club concludes on September 19.

Standings after three rounds: 1. Lev Aronian and Harikrishna 5 pts; 3. Ian Nepomniachtchi and Wesley So 4 pts; 5. Magnus Carlsen 3 pts; 6. Hikaru Nakamura, Leinier Dominiguez, Alireza Firouzja, Jeffery Xiong 2 pts; 10. Alexander Grischuk 1 point. 

Image credits: PTI / Social Media