Alireza Firouzja Leads 2024 Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz After Day 4

GM Alireza Firouzja is dominating the 2024 Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz tournament, leading by a point and a half after the first nine rounds of blitz. Behind him are top-scorers GM Wesley So and GM Ian Nepomniachtchi, both on 16 points. Firouzja’s stellar form in the blitz segment is reminiscent of his 2022 performance when he won the tournament with four rounds to spare.

Despite a rare opening disaster against GM Levon Aronian, Firouzja bounced back with wins against top players like Hikaru Nakamura and Nepomniachtchi. So, on the other hand, had the best score in the blitz segment, winning five out of the subsequent six games after his loss to Firouzja. Nepomniachtchi and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave are also in contention, with exciting games and critical moments shaping the tournament standings.

As the tournament heads into the final round of blitz, the top spot is still up for grabs, with luck playing a crucial role in determining the winner. The double round-robin format promises more thrilling games and intense competition as players vie for their share of the $175,000 prize fund. Stay tuned to see if Firouzja can maintain his lead or if another player will rise to the occasion in this high-stakes chess event.