Vietnamese international grandmaster Le Quang Liem ranked fourth with 10 points at the World Blitz and Rapid Championships which concluded in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, on Saturday.

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan took the title after 15 matches with 11.5 points and walked away with US$40,000.

Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia came second with 11 points and Russian Alexander Grischuk came third with 10.5.

This was Liem’s best performance at a World Chess Federation (FIDE) international event.

Another Vietnamese representative, Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son secured 16th place with 8.5 points.

Meanwhile, Viet Nam triumphed in the rapid and blitz events at the ongoing 2013 Southeast Asian (SEA) Open Chess Championships in Thailand.

The team brought home 14 golds, 14 silvers and 18 bronzes. The Philippines finished second with seven golds, six silvers and five bronzes, Singapore went to third with four golds, two silvers and two bronzes.

World U10 champion Nguyen Anh Khoi won gold medal in the U12 rapid event, but only grabbed silver in the U12 blitz.

(Source: VNS)