Vietnamese Grandmaster Lê Quang Liêm. — Photo baodongnai.com.vn

The world former blitz champion Liêm tied with Ioannis Papaioannou of Greece after 69 moves.

Liêm has Elo rating of 2708, while Papaioannou has Elo rating of 2645.

The result leaves Liêm undefeated at the tournament with a record of six draws and one win.

Meanwhile, the other Vietnamese representative Nguyễn Ngọc Trường Sơn, Elo rating 2638, enjoyed a victory over Ariel Erenberg of Israel, Elo rating 2463, after 44 moves.

Both Liêm and Sơn are on four points after seven matches, leaving the pair just 1.5 points behind the group’s leaders.

Both Vietnamese representatives are in contention to move up in the rankings with four matches still to play.

In the competition’s next match, Liêm will play Alexey Sarana of Russia, Elo rating 2655, while Sơn will take on Nils Grandelius of Sweden, Elo rating 2691. — VNS