 "India's R Vaishali has qualified for the quarter-finals of the 2024 World Blitz Championship in New York. Image: X / @FIDE_chess")
Indian Grandmaster R Vaishali qualified for the quarter-finals of the 2024 Women’s World Blitz Chess Championship in New York on Monday after she finished on top of the standings with 9.5 points out of a possible 11 points. However, her compatriot Koneru Humpy, who recently won the World Rapid Championship , was knocked out after finishing in ninth place with eight points.
The top eight players after 11 rounds in the women’s section qualifies for the knockout stage. Divya Deshmukh, Vatika Agarwal and D Harika finished in 18th, 19th and 22nd places with seven points each.
Vaishali qualified for the knockout stage with three draws and eight victories. “I don’t think I’m a great Blitz player, honestly. There are many more strong players who are playing here. I think today I was just lucky in many games, and it just worked out,” Vaishali said after the game on Monday. Vaishali will take on China’s Zhou Jiner in the quarter-finals.
The Indian “Open” contingent had a disappointing day with Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa failing to qualify for the knockout stage. Praggnanandhaa was the best among the two Indian men after he finished in 23rd place with 8.5/13 points.
Magnus Carlsen, who returned to play the Blitz Championship after his controversial disqualification earlier due to dress code violation, qualified for the quarter-finals after finishing in third place. Carlsen will face American GM Hans Niemann in the quarter-finals. Alireza Firouzja and Jan-Krzysztof Duda were among the others to qualify for the knockout stage
List of qualified players for World Blitz Championship knockout stage (Rank, player, rating, country, points)
Women’s section
1. R Vaishali (2359, IND): 9.5/11
2. Le Tingjie (2491, CHN): 8.5/11
3. Kateryna Lagno (2444, FID): 8/11
4. Valentina Guniha (2374, FID): 8/11
5. Ju Wenjun (2480, CHN): 8/11
6. Carissa Yip (2285, USA): 8/11
7. Bibisara A (2443, KAZ): 8/11
8. Zhu Jiner (2434, CHN): 8/11
Open Section
1. Ian Nepomniachtchi (2770, FID): 9.5/13
2. Fabiano Caruana (2796, USA): 9.5/13
3. Magnus Carlsen (2890, NOR): 9.5/13
4. Wesley So (2803, USA): 9.5/13
5. Alireza Firouzja (2871, FRA): 9.5/13
6. Hans Niemann (2709, USA): 9.5/13
7. Jan-Krzysztof Duda (2776, POL): 9.5/13
8. Volodar Murzin (2629, FID): 9.5/13