Vietnam top chess player finishes fourth in grand tournament

In the last round of FTX Crypto Cup, Liem (21st in world rankings) faced Niemann (51st), who had lost the previous six rounds. The Vietnamese number one didn’t hesitate to attack in the first game and wrapped it up quickly after 43 moves.

The second game saw Niemann making a comeback with sharp and flawless moves to claim victory.

Both players went back and fourth in the third game but couldn’t exploit each other’s weaknesses and accepted a draw after 46 moves.

The score was 1.5-1.5 after the first three games, so Liem entered the final with great determination. Despite playing black, Liem still attacked the opponent and gradually made clever moves to control the game. Niemann’s effort to bring the game to a draw was in vain as Liem stayed consistent with his tactics and won after 72 moves.

Liem climbed to fourth overall in FTX Crypto Cup after four wins and three losses.

FTX Crypto Cup is the second major tournament of Champion Chess Tour, a 10-month long series of 10 chess events featuring top world players, with a prize money pool of $1.6 million.

A player will get $2,500 for each point earned in the tournament. With 12 points, Liem has earned $30,000.

Chess king Magnus Carlsen is the champion of this tournament with 16 points.