- Ivan, the second day is over. How do you feel? What are your general impressions on the tournament?

- This is my fifth time in Khanty-Mansiysk and I am happy that it is not that cold this time. I like this place very much, the organization is good as usually. As for the tournament, of course 5 rounds per day is tough schedule, so I am tired already.

- What game of today can you call a principal one? Against Dreev maybe?

- All games at these championships are principal and important. Many opponents I play against here are over 2700. So far, I played Kamsky, Mamedjarov. Of course the game against Dreev can be considered as one the most important for me as it was the last round of the day. And it is very important to win the last game.

- Some people have an opinion that one should be very lucky to win in blitz and rapid. What do you think?

- Generally every sportsman should be lucky in every sport, not only in blitz or rapid to my mind.

- Did you have any special preparations before these championships?

- I have never played in any serious rapid or blitz tournaments before. I have no experience in fact. Before coming here, I had some friendly blitz matches against Antoaneta Stefanova but as I said nothing serious.

- We thank you so much for coming here even being tired. We wish you good luck at the tournament and hope to see you again.test

Ian Nepomniachtchi started the second day by defending his compatriot Alexei Dreev. He continued his victorious March with outplaying Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan), Boris Grachev (Russia) and Le Quang Liem (Vietnam). He just lost half a point in a game against Dmitry Andreikin.

The famous Russian commentator GM Sergey Shipov said the following on the successful start of Russian player:

«Ian is lucky at http://custompaperwritingservice.net the tournament to have three positive factors combined luckily for him, — Shipov thinks. He is in a great shape himself. And plus, his main competitors don’t show their best performance, due to different reasons. Grischuk is keeping secrets in his openings. Ponomariov is not in the best health shape. Dreev is not so young anymore to cope with tough tournament. I was expecting more from Andreikin, but maybe he doesn’t force the preparations, for he has more important tournament ahead — Tal Memorial.

Ian found the right balance between light and deep game. This is very important in rapid chess, where you don’t have a possibility to sink into the depth of the game. He plays very quickly and thinks deeply only in critical moments.

In recent years Nepomniachtchi was not so successful, but he worked hard and sooner or later the result has to come. In my opinion, he has a great chance to win two golden medals but let`s see what will happen.

Standings after 10 rounds: 1. Ian Nepomniachtchi - 9 points, 2-3. Ildar Khairullin, Ivan Cheparinov — 7, 4-9. Alexey Dreev (Russia), Vladimir Akopian (Armenia), Vladimir Potkin (Russia), Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan), Alexander Grischuk (Russia), Sergei Movsesian (Armenia)

The final five rounds of the World Rapid Chess Championship will be held on Saturday, June 8 at 3 p.m. local time. test

Photos by Maria Emelianova

- You know, this result was a big surprise for me. When I was coming here I did not even think about victory. There are lots of strong chess players who are famous all over the world. I just wanted to see what will happen and who will become the Champion. In fact I cannot recollect any success in any previous blitz tournaments. For instance last time when I played Aeroflot, I played badly though I was fifth in the starting list. And in the final list I was not even in the first 50 players. Today I did not play very well but with each game I had better game. By the end of the day I started to play more confidently, making less mistakes.

- At some points you were two points ahead of your competitors. Did you feel that you have a chance to win?

- Yes, I was two points ahead but it was still unclear who will lead. This is blitz and if you make a small mistake – you lose. Everything I was thinking about at that moment is that I just have to play. Somewhere I started to put some pressure.

- Your compatriot showed good results as well. Did you prepare for these championships, perhaps by playing against each other?

- Yes, we were really training before the tournament. We were playing against each other and via Internet. This gave me more confidence.

- Is the victory in this championship your biggest success in your chess career?

- Yes, it is the biggest success in my life. It happens once in a while when someone wins the World Champion’s title. This victory is very important for me, As for the chess side, I see that I need to learn and learn. I will not practice more, I will play more chess.

- You are the first chess player from Vietnam who became the World Chess Champion. Do you feel like a hero of your country?

- Before this success I had some achievements in chess career. They know me in Vietnam, they recognize me in the streets. I would like to underline that today’s success will not only give me energy in my future career but also will help the chess development in my country.

- You were wearing the sport suit during all days of the championships. Now you have changed to the suit…

- Usually when I participate in rapid or blitz competitions, I wear something comfortable. Because I need to move pieces very quickly. But it is good to wear an official dress for the press conference and Closing Ceremony.

- Despite the fact that you had a big distance throughout the whole tournament. But in the last round all three chess players had almost equal chances. You played against Sergey Movsesian in the last round? What did you feel during this game.

- Before the last round it was an interesting situation. Several chess players had chances to win the tournament. I think that it was difficult not only for me. I came to play this game as all other games. I just played chess. I tried not to make mistakes. In the first game against Movsesian we had an equal position and came to a draw. Then I saw that Ponomariov won and I share the first place with him. That is why I thought that I have to take the second game against Movsesian more seriously. I thought I have to try to get some advantage and try to win. At some point I had worse position but then some chances appeared and I used them. Fortunately I managed to win.

- — After this victory, don’t you think it is high time to organize big international official chess tournaments in Vietnam to give you and other Vietnamese chess players a chance to participate in them.

- I would be really great if the Vietnamese Chess Academy and our country in general will organize big chess competitions of high level. The main problem is to find sponsors. Unfortunately chess is not so popular in our country as other sports. For instance football. But I think that thanks to our chess players and their success during last years and particularly thanks to this success of mine in this championship, people would have more interest in chess.

- What memories will you have after this tournament?

- I come to Khanty-Mansiysk for the 5th time. I was playing in the World Cup, took part in the World Chess Olympiad. There are many chess competitions of the international level, with good organization. I have very good memories about this city. It is a small and beautiful city. After this success Khanty-Mansiysk is a lucky place for me. I think it is just created for chess.

Photos by Kirill Merkuryev

At the closing ceremony the medalists and prize winners were awarded with the medals, cups and gifts from the organizers.

The representative from Azerbaijan Shakhriyar Mamedyarov celebrated the victory in the World Rapid Chess Championship. Silver and bronze went to the Russian Grandmasters Yan Nepomniachtchi and Alexander Grischuk accordingly.

Having a floor at the Closing ceremony, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov underlined that he is very glad that became the FIDE World Rapid Champion in Khanty-Mansiysk. “This is my 6 visit to Khanty-Mansiysk and I won the tournament in Ugra for the first time. I hope to continue this good tradition during my next visit as well.”

The winner of the FIDE World Blitz Chess Championship Le Quang Liem supported Mamedyarov. “Every time I come to this beautiful city I see again that the organization of all the tournaments are on a high level. I hope that all championships in future will be held in Khanty-Mansiysk and I will come here again,” – the winner said.

Let as add that the silver medal of the FIDE World Blitz Chess Championship went to the Russian chess player Alexander Grischuk. The Bronze medal decorated the chest of the Ukrainian Grandmaster Ruslan Ponomariov.

The FIDE Vice President Ali Nihat Yazici underlined the significance of Ugra in the chess world.

“The population of the okrug is very small. But all people here have good hearts. The level of the organization in Ugra and Khanty-Mansiysk is the model in world chess since 2005. I am happy to inform you that Ugra capiral will again host the Women’s World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship in one year. Besides, Khanty-Mansiysk will host a row of other international competitions,” – Ali Nihat Yazici said.

“I would like to pay a special attention to the uniqueness of the Chess Academy. This is the best academy not only in Russia, but in the world. Khanty-Mansiysk is awarded with the title “the most significant friend of FIDE”, — he added.

The FIDE Vice President once again expressed his gratitude to the Ugra Governor Natalia Komarova and the Head of Khanty-Mansiysk Vasily Filipenko for the magnificent organization.

The concert continued the Closing Ceremony. The main idea of performance was: “Ugra does not say good0bye. Ugra offers to make the next move.”

During the championships about 70 thousands of chess fans from 150 countries visited the official site.

The Russian grandmaster Yan Nepomniachtchi and the Vietnamese Le Quang Liem were leading after the first day. Both Grandmasters had 12 points each. But the distance from the competitors was not very big: half a point behind was Ruslan Ponomariov from the Ukraine. Also, very close to the leading chess players, there was a group of chess players Alexander Grischuk, Ernesto Inarkiev from Russia.

At the beginning of the second day, Le Liem was ahead of other chess players. Till the last round he managed to keep this distance. But before the last round Ponomariov came very close to the Vietnamese grandmaster. The victory over Sergey Movsesian (Armenia) in the last round brought the gold medal to Le in the World Blitz championship. Ponomariov made a draw in the last round against Gabriel Sargissian.

Grischuk, Nepomniachtchi and Ponomatiov finished the championship only half a point behind the winner. The silver medal goes to Alexander Grischuk and the bronze — to Ruslan Ponomariov.

The World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship was taking place from 6 to 10 June in Khanty-Mansiysk. The World Rapid Champion was known on 8 June, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE) became the World Rapid Chess Champion. Silver and Bronze medal go to Yan Nepomniachtchi and Alexander Grischuk accordingly.

The prize fund of the championships was 400 thousand US dollars and was divided between two tournaments equally.