The 2015 World Rapid Chess Championship started today at the Bolle Meierei in Berlin, Germany, with 158 world’s top players competing for the prestigious title and 200,000 USD prize fund.
At the beginning of the first round the honorary move was made by the former FIDE President GM Fridrik Olafsson, in the presence of FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, President of the German Chess Federation Herbert Bastian, and FIDE CEO Geoffrey Borg.
After the first day and five rounds of play Sergey Karjakin from Russia, fresh winner of the 2015 FIDE World Cup in Baku, emerged sole leader with 4,5/5 points. He conceded only one draw, to GM Yuriy Kryvoruchko.
At the final press conference of the FIDE World Cup Karjakin said that he was uncertain if he will play in Berlin, due to fatigue. Obviously the numerous quick-play tie-breaks in Baku were good practice for the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships.
Karjakin is followed by as many as 16 players scoring 4,0 points each. Among them is the defending champion Magnus Carlsen who made two draws, against Ehsan Ghaem Maghami and, again, Yuriy Kryvoruchko.
Info: Full set of results / Standings and statistics/ Photo gallery / Confessions/ Tournament website / Preview and information
Live: World Rapid Chess 2015 LIVE / World Blitz Chess 2015 LIVE
The games take place daily from 14:00 local time.
