World Rapid & Blitz, Day 2: Setting up for the Finale

The second day of the World Rapid Championship begins with much jostling for position. The Open had seven players tied at 5/6 after round six, and 15 more half a point behind. The Women’s saw Ju Wenjun take down leader Alice Lee to claim the sole lead herself at 4.5/5, half a point ahead of ten other players.

In the 7th round, Magnus once again found himself lost against a young player, 19-year-old Daniel Dardha, after letting a good position slip. Dardha didn’t come up with the win, and settled for a draw by repetition. Magnus’s troubles weren’t limited to the chessboard, as it was then reported that he had been fined $200 for a ‘dress code violation’ and the powers that be demanded he change out of his jeans before the 8th round.

Meanwhile, of the seven leaders, only Daniel Naroditsky won his seventh game, taking down Nodirbek Abdusattorov and finding himself in solo first at 6/7. The fan favourite will be relishing the challenge to keep ahead of his chasers. In the Women’s, Ju won again and started to pull away from the pack slightly, with only Kateryna Lagno and Alexandra Kosteniuk within half a point.

Magnus is up against countryman Aryan Tari next, while leader Naroditsky takes on Jan-Krzysztof Duda. The Women’s has a high-leverage matchup too, in Kosteniuk-Ju.

Round eight of the Open is currently underway, and round seven of the Women’s. Day two of the Open will finish after round nine. You can catch up on all the day’s action on Lichess, or the chess24 livestream with GM Aman Hambleton and FM James Canty.