The Azerbaijan State News Agency

SPORTS

Magnus Carlsen wins first leg of Grand Chess Tour 2019 in Cote D'Ivoire

13.05.2019 [16:42]
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Baku, May 13, AZERTAC

Magnus Carlsen had no trouble securing a win at the Côte d’Ivoire Rapid & Blitz in Abidjan, Africa, as he had the tournament in his pocket with two rounds to spare. Maintaining a safe lead throughout three days of rapid and two days of blitz, the world champion ended on 26.5/36, three and a half points ahead of Hikaru Nakamura and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, who finished on 23/36, according to www.chess.com.

Carlsen has now added a rapid and blitz title to the list of successes he achieved in 2019.

The rapid and blitz competition in Abidjan was the first leg of the Grand Chess Tour, which consists of seven tournaments in four continents throughout the year. The next event of the tour will be in Croatia, starting June 24 with a classical time control.

World Champion Magnus Carlsen heads a field of ten top GMs competing for a prize fund of USD $150,000.