Liren wins 16-move Armageddon to move into third at the Magnus Carlsen Invitational

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SHOWS: INTERNET / VARIOUS UNKNOWN LOCATIONS (APRIL 23, 2020) (CHESS24 HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL)

MAXIME VACHIER-LAGRAVE V DING LIREN

1. FOURTH GAME, WHICH ENDS IN A DRAW, IN ACTION

2. WHITE FLASH

3. MORE OF GAME FOUR ACTION

4. WHITE FLASH

5. MORE OF GAME FOUR ACTION

6. WHITE FLASH

7. GAME FOUR ENDING IN A DRAW SETTING UP ARMAGEDDON (NOT PROVIDED) / LIREN WINS 2:1 (ON 3-2)

ANISH GIRI V IAN NEPOMNIACHTCHI

8. FOURTH GAME, WHICH ENDS IN DRAW, IN ACTION

9. WHITE FLASH

10. WHITE FLASH

11. FOURTH GAME ENDS IN A DRAW, GIRI FAILS TO GET ON THE BOARD / NEPOMNIACHTCHI WINS 3:0 (ON 2.5 - 1.5)

STORY: Ding Liren leapt into third place at the Magnus Carlsen Invitational on Thursday (April 23) with a 3 - 2 win over Maxime Vachier-Lagrave including taking the Armageddon game in just 16 moves, enough to earn him 2 points in the standings.

With the second day of Round 3 now complete, Magnus Carlsen remains at the top with eight points followed by Hikaru Nakamura on seven and Liren with six.

Fabiano Caruana, who going into the tournament was thought to be the biggest threat to reigning champ Carlsen, is on five points along with Vachier-Lagrave and Ian Nepomniachtchi.

Nepomniachtchi picked up three points in Thursday's other match as he defeated Anish Giri 2.5 - 1.5 as they Dutchman failed once again to get on the board and has yet to win a game.

Dubbed the richest ever online chess tournament, with a prize fund of $250,000 U.S. dollars, seven top ranked players join world number one Carlsen in competing for top honours.