HÀ NỘI — International Master Phạm Lê Thảo Nguyên continued her good performance at the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

On the second day of the competition on Wednesday, the Vietnamese secured two wins, two draws and one loss to gain seven points and place fifth in the women’s rapid chess category ranking.

In the first match, Nguyên, who is the No 36 seed, made a bang when she beat two-time world champion, Stefanova Antoaneta of Bulgaria.

She then drew against Grandmaster (GM) Kosteniuk Alexandra, of Russia, who is the No 2 seed.

Nguyên then won against GM Khotenashvili Bela from Georgia before she tied against GM Goryachkina Aleksandra from Russia.

Nguyên’s only loss was to Chinese GM, Ju Wenjun, who now tops the table with eight points.

All of Nguyên’s rivals had a higher Elo rating than her on the second day.

The second position in the category went to Alexandra, followed by GM Elina Danielian of Armenia.

Three other female Vietnamese athletes at the event were Asian champion, Võ Thị Kim Phụng, who now ranks at No 22, WGM Hoàng Thị Bảo Trâm who is sitting at No 33 and WGM Nguyễn Thị Mai Hưng who is placed at No 81.

In the Open pool, Việt Nam No 1 Lê Quang Liêm jumped to No 37, after his two wins, two draws and one loss.

The former world champion, Liêm, has six points, two less than leading GM, Vladimir Fedoseev of Russia.

GM Anand Viswanathan of India is second and GM Peter Svidler of Russia is at third place.

Nguyễn Ngọc Trường Sơn of Việt Nam was not at his best in the completion. He was in the lower half of the ranking, with five points; that places him at No 80.

The competitors will play five matches on the third and last day of the rapid chess event on December 28 before moving to the blitz chess tournament. — VNS