Three players are in striking distance of leader Levon Aronian going into Round 16 of 21!

Interview with Hans Niemann | FIDE World Blitz Championship |

GM Hans Neimann: "Now that I am giving an interview, I don't feel like a total failure and disappointment. Maybe I can convince myself that I am actually doing well in a tournament!"

Anish Giri beats Magnus Carlsen, pumps his fist, winks at the camera | World Blitz 2021

It doesn't rain but it pours for Magnus, who now loses to Grischuk!

Aronian plays the rook endgame with precision, defeats Anish Giri and extends his lead!

At least there's some good news for Hikaru Nakamura today! https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-tournaments/world-blitz-championship-2021/16/1/1

Levon Aronian has a 1-point lead with 5 rounds to go after beating Anish Giri in Round 16!

GM Alexander Grischuk plays the Catalan opening and wins against Magnus Carlsen! This is Carlsen's second loss in a row.

With 5 rounds to go, Magnus Carlsen and Alireza Firouzja both find themselves in the 2nd column of our standings, 3 points behind leader Levon Aronian

Will Levon Aronian become World Blitz Champion?
📷: Adam Nurkiewicz

♔ In a very topsy-turvy game, Vachier_Lagrave strikes against Levon Aronian!

Carlsen after beating Mastrovasilis in R17: "It's been pretty bad. I'll just have to apologise. It's a pity to be so much behind your best when it really matters. I'll just try to have four good performances, and we'll see how it goes."

Interview with Arjun Erigaisi | FIDE World Blitz Championship |

"In general, I play very fast even in classical, so that helps!"
In Round 18, Erigaisi is facing Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.

“Levon is visibly very upset because he understands that, with that loss, a lot of other players are catching up with him”, IM Lawrence Trent, right after Levon Aronian lost his game against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.

📷: Mark Livshitz

The rare occasion when Alireza's time runs out | Firouzja vs Karjakin | World Blitz 2021

The Levon Aronian-Arjun Erigaisi saga continues | World Blitz 2021

Levon Aronian's loss means lots of scenarios are still possible with 4 rounds to go

Congratulations to 17-year-old Bibisara Assaubayeva on winning the Women's World Blitz Championship with a round to spare!

https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-tournaments/world-blitz-championship-women-2021/16/1/1

Firouzja wins and catches Dubov in the lead going into the final round! https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-tournaments/world-blitz-championship-2021/20/1/2