Magnus Carlsen beats Artemiev to take a half point lead over Maxim Matlakov into tomorrow's final 9 rounds of the World Blitz Championship!

Magnus Carlsen's impressive run on the first day of the blitz:

1. Predke - 1
2. Belov - 1
3. Salem - 1
4. Jakovenko - 1
5. Wojtaszek - 1
6. Abdusattorov - ½
7. Andreikin - 0
8. Mamedyarov - 1
9. Jobava - 1
10. Socko - 1
11. Nakamura - ½
12. Artemiev - 1

#rapidblitz

Vladimir Kramnik ended the day on a positive note as he won a smooth game against Eduardo Iturrizaga, 20 moves only in the symmetrical English opening.

The former world champion has scored 8/12 and is getting closer to the leaders going into the second day. #rapidblitz

From running behind Magnus Carlsen in a football field (in Qatar 2015) to now holding him to a draw, Nodirbek Abdusattorov has come a long way. Magnus Carlsen began the World Blitz 2019 with 5.0/5, this 15-year-old youngster finally stopped him!

Interview with Anish Giri | World Blitz Ch 2019 | Day 1 |

🔸15th Vasylyshyn GM 2018
🔸Round 3
⚪️Buksa,N (2437)
⚫️Sivuk,V (2551)
🔸0-1

17...Bxg2+! [Black correctly evaluates the final position and exchange his two pieces for the opponent's rook and pawn.]

[17...Qc7!? 18.Nc5 Neg4 19.Qg1™ Rfc8 20.Nxb7 Qxb7µ]

18.Kxg2 Qb7+ 19.Kg1™ Nf3+ 20.Rxf3 Qxf3 21.Nd2 Qf5!‚ [Black doesn't allow his opponent to consolidate.]

22.Qh4? [¹22.Qf4 Qxc2-/+]

22...Qxc2?=/+ [This hastily move permits White to gain counterplay. Black could have seized a completely winning position with the following continuation:]

[22...Ra5! 23.Rf1 Qc5+ 24.Rf2 Rxb5 25.Nxb5 Qxb5–+]