The World Chess Federation (FIDE) has recently announced the list of 32 chess players eligible for this year’s competition, including 16 males and 16 females who are ranked among top 20 in the FIDE men’s and women’s world rankings.

Despite his modest ranking of 42, Liem qualifies for the Games as defending world blitz champion, a title which he won in grand style this June at the 2013 World Blitz and Rapid Chess Championships.

This will be the second time Liem has competed in the event. He struggled on his World Mind Games debut two years ago, finishing 14th out of 16 participants with just 2.5 points.

During the week-long tournament, competitors will battle it out in the blitz, rapid and basque events for US$145,000 in total prize money; US$87,000 in the men’s division and US$58,000 in the women’s.