The FIDE Online Steinitz Memorial consists of two 10-player tournaments, one open and one for women. Each player will play each other twice over 18 rounds of blitz matches, where the players have three minutes for all moves and a two-second increment after every move. All games are to be played on chess24.com and will be broadcast live with commentary in multiple languages.

The FIDE Online Steinitz Memorial is the first international invitational tournament with the participation of Vietnamese Grandmaster Le Quang Liem since the Romania Grand Chess Tour 2019.

2013 World Blitz Champion Liem will be joined by World Champion and five-time World Blitz Champion Magnus Carlsen (Norway), three-time World Blitz Champion Alexander Grischuk (Russia), Peter Svidler (Russia) and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) in the Open section, together with five more players who have yet to be determined.

2018 and 2019 Women’s World Blitz Champion Kateryna Lagno (Russia) heads the women’s line-up, with former Women’s World Champions Alexandra Kosteniuk (Russia), Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria) and Tan Zhongyi (China), and 2018 World Blitz silver medalist Sarasadat Khademalsharieh (Iran) all in action.

The total prize fund is EUR30,000, with EUR18,000 for the Open section (EUR4,500 for 1st) and EUR12,000 for the Women’s section (EUR3,000 for 1st). One innovation is that half of the prize money is to be paid out on a game-by-game basis, with every point in the Open section worth an extra EUR100 (EUR70 in the Women’s section).

Wilhelm Steinitz was born on May 17, 1836, and became the first undisputed World Chess Champion in 1886 when he beat Johannes Zukertort (UK). Steinitz defended his world title three times against Mikhail Chigorin (1889, 1992) and Isidor Gunsberg (1891) before losing it to Emanuel Lasker (Germany) in 1894. Six years later, he passed away in the US city of New York.

Bac Giang wins 3 medals at national chess championship

(BGO) – The 2019 National Chess Championship for Strong Players was held in Quang Ninh province on November 16 – 24, drawing nearly 100 chess players from the provinces, cities and sectors to vie for the medal in singles’ standard and blitz chess categories. 

Nearly 100 chess players join national championship

Nearly 100 chess players from cities, provinces and units joined a national championship that opened in Ha Long city, the northwestern province of Quang Ninh, on November 17.

Vietnamese GM finishes fourth at world rapid chess contest

Grandmaster Le Quang Liem finished fourth in the lightning and rapid chess competition in the 2019 Grand Chess Tour, a career high.

Quang Liem impressive in blitz chess at Romania Grand Tour

Vietnamese super grandmaster Le Quang Liem performed brilliantly on the first day of blitz chess (November 9) at the ongoing 2019 Superbet Rapid & Blitz in Romania with five wins and four draws.

Vo Thi Kim Phung (Bac Giang) bags 1 gold, 1 silver at 2019 ASEAN Chess Championship

(BGO) - The 2019 ASEAN Chess Championship was concluded in Bac Giang Hotel, Bac Giang city on 3 November after 10-day tough competition. The closing ceremony was attended by leaders of ASEAN Chess Confederation, Vietnam Chess Federation, Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism of Bac Giang province and representatives, coaches and athletes of the delegations. 

Source: NDO