Artemiev, Carlsen Lead World Blitz Chess Championship

With nine rounds to go on Sunday Magnus Carlsen and Vladislav Artemiev share the lead at the World Blitz Championship in St. Petersburg. Kateryna Lagno and Sarasadat Khademalsharieh are tied for first in the women's section, where eight more games will be played.

At the much faster time control of three minutes plus two seconds increment, the players sat down at the boards again today in the Manege in St. Petersburg. It's a completely different type of chess, and it's here where we'll find the so-called specialists alongside the strongest GMs in the world.

Reigning classical and blitz champion Carlsen had a good day with 9.5/12, where he had started with 7/11 last year. The only other player on 9.5 points is the Russian speed chess demon Artemiev.

Lots of spectators visit the tournament every day, where the entry is free. You might recognize the famous trainer and former world championship candidate Artur Jussupow. | Photo: Lennart Ootes/FIDE.

Sergey Karjakin, who scored 9/11 on the first day in both 2017 and 2016, is a point behind with 8.5/12. Daniil Dubov, the world rapid champion, is on 7.5 points.

Speaking of the so-called specialists, we see two Russian IMs among the first 16 players after 12 rounds, both with 8 points: 18-year-old Saveliy Golubov and 22-year-old Zhamsaran Tsydypov.

You might remember the name Golubov, who played for Moscow Phoenix this year in the PRO Chess League qualifier and who lost brilliantly against David Paravyan earlier this year. Tzydypov is from Buryatia (the Buryats are ethnically close to Mongols and Kalmyks, also Buddhists historically). Other notable Buryats in chess are Bator Sambuev and Anton Shomoev.

Carlsen remained undefeated today, with wins against Ivan Popov, Vitaly Teterev, Marin Bosiocic, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Alireza Firouzja, Peter Svidler and Levon Aronian, and draws against Sergey Grigoriants, Alexei Shirov, Sergei Zhigalko, Dmitry Andreikin and in today's last round, Artemiev.

Carlsen getting checked by the anti-cheating arbiter before round one. | Photo: Lennart Ootes/FIDE.

The first games weren't that convincing. In the first round Carlsen was helped by his opponent, who had defended perfectly and was ready to draw the game until he made an inexplicable calculation (judgement?) error.

Carlsen vs Popov watched by several GMs. | Photo: Maria Emelianova/FIDE.

And in the second round, Carlsen had been better for a long time, but spoilt the endgame and was completely lost at some point, only to escape with stalemate: 

In his fourth game of the day, Carlsen trapped his opponent's queen early in the game:

By round seven, the tournament had an unexpected leader. 15-year-old Firouzja had blown just about everyone away that came on his path, and was sitting on 6.5 points, a full point ahead of the pack. He had just beaten Andreikin, Peter Svidler and Baadur Jobava.

Strangely, that's where it ended, at least for today. Firouzja lost to Carlsen, and then also to Wang Hao and Nepomniachtchi. After a draw with Alexandr Predke, the Iranian youngster finished his day with a loss to Vladislav Kovalev.

But games like these show that he is the real deal:

Alireza Firouzja, one of Iran's biggest talents together with Parham Maghsoodloo and Sarasadat Khademalsharieh. | Photo: Maria Emelianova/FIDE.

Andreikin was initially fighting for equality but later had Carlsen on the ropes in round nine, until he mixed up the move order in a rook vs pawns endgame. What a disaster!

Carlsen escaped miraculously vs Andreikin. | Photo: Maria Emelianova/FIDE.

The game between Carlsen and Svidler was decided in time trouble, where Black was doing OK but the position was just slightly tougher to play. Svidler, who is playing in the city where he lives, must have completely missed the last move, which turned out to be checkmate.

If a handshake ever demonstrated mutual respect, it was the one between Svidler and Carlsen. | Photo: Maria Emelianova/FIDE.

Today's penultimate round saw the big pairing between Aronian and Carlsen, who were sharing the lead together with Andreikin, Artemiev and Wang Hao. It became an epic battle where Aronian, under pressure in the middlegame, was left with about 10 seconds around move 23, then kept on defending strongly purely on intuition but eventually couldn't hold against this persisting opponent.

Aronian-Carlsen next to Andreikin-Artemiev. | Photo: Maria Emelianova/FIDE.

In round 10 Artemiev easily outplayed Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, who played a strange double fianchetto against White's 1.d4-setup. You're not supposed to play that way, and Artemiev showed why.

Artemiev was asked to how to beat Carlsen. His reply: "It's only possible if you catch him off guard, maybe in the opening. If he is pushing to win, he is unstoppable!" The two drew their mutual game today.

In round 11 Andreikin completely demolished Wang Hao with the black pieces. The way the Chinese treated his Pirc, Andreikin got a nice Dragon Sicilian and the position played by itself.

Another super specialist is of course Hikaru Nakamura. The Grand Chess Tour and Speed Chess winner is on a disappointing 8/12 as his first day included losses against Anton Korobov and Ahmed Adly, and a draw against the aforementioned Tsydypov. 

Korobov knew exactly what to do against what seems to be Nakamura's favorite setup in blitz these days. The Ukrainian played a Saemisch formation as is done with the white pieces against the King's Indian:

Nakamura and Aronian shoulder to shoulder. | Photo: Lennart Ootes/FIDE.

Fifth seed Vishy Anand has half a point less; his 7.5/12 included losses to also Korobov, and a player of his own generation, Ilia Smirin. The Israeli grandmaster decided the game with rook sacrifice that many of us would also have found:

Ilya Smirin. | Photo: Maria Emelianova/FIDE.

Another game that caught our eye was the following, where in an endgame that should have ended in draw Nikita Vitiugov suddenly got himself checkmated against Duda:

2018 World Blitz | Round 12 Standings (Top 20)

Carlsen, naturally in a better mood after day four. | Photo: Maria Emelianova/FIDE.

Tomorrow's 13th round has the interesting pairing Carlsen vs Anish Giri. On the eve of that game, NRK posted an interesting story with quotes from Giri about the world champ:

Some interesting information revealed there: Caruana and Giri turned down an offer from Carlsen to join a training camp, while Aronian and Kramnik accepted. "It would've been interesting from me, but he is like a vampire, so it's best to stay away." Giri tells NRK.

— Tarjei J. Svensen (@TarjeiJS) December 29, 2018

In the women's section things look a bit differently than the last three days. Ju wasn't dominating this time; as fourth seed she is currently in third place, half a point behind leaders Lagno, second seeded in the tournament, and 25th seed Khademalsharieh.

Both reigning champion (and top seed) Nana Dzagnidze and Anna Muzychuk (third seed) are on a somewhat disappointing 5.5/9, two points behind the leaders.

21-year-old Iranian IM Khademalsharieh is again doing very well, after she took the silver medal at the world rapid yesterday. One of her victims today was none other than Ju, in round seven. The Chinese was positionally bankrupt when her attack came too late:

Khademalsharieh vs Ju. | Photo: Maria Emelianova/FIDE.

The next round Khademalsharieh also defeated Humpy Koneru. In a very nervous time trouble phase, the latter made the last mistake:

Sarasadat Khademalsharieh (left) with Zhansaya Abdumalik. | Photo: Lennart Ootes/FIDE.

One of Lagno's fiercest battles was the game with her team mate Alexandra Kosteniuk:

Kosteniuk vs Lagno. | Photo: Maria Emelianova/FIDE.

Lagno interviewed after the first day of blitz.

2018 Women World Blitz | Round 9 Standings (Top 20)

(Full final standings here.)

Replay the broadcast of the fourth day.

Jussupow and Dvorkovich as spectators in the playing hall. | Photo: Maria Emelianova/FIDE.

New pairings are out! | Photo: Maria Emelianova/FIDE.

The trophies of the World Rapid and Blitz. | Photo: Maria Emelianova/FIDE.

Yury Solomatin contributed to this report.

Earlier reports:

• Daniil Dubov, Ju Wenjun Win World Rapid Chess Championships
• World Rapid Chess Championship Day 2: 7-Way Tie; Anand, Carlsen Close Behind
• Carlsen Loses 2 Games At World Rapid Chess Championship Day 1
• World Rapid, Blitz Chess Championships Officially Opened; Carlsen To Start With Black
• Carlsen, Anand To Defend Rapid, Blitz Titles In St. Petersburg