Magnus Carlsen Unstoppable at World Rapid Chess Championship in Astana

World No. 1 Norway's Magnus Carlsen is going to run away with the World Rapid Chess Championship currently on in Astana, Kazakhstan. Magnus Carlsen is leading with a massive 1.5-point lead with 8.5/10. Five games had been played on Day. Karjakin and Carlsen were in joint lead at the beginning of second day's play. By the end of the day, Karjakin had lost two games against Mamedyarov and Carlsen. Carlsen, earlier in the day, drew with Gelfand and Dreev, but beat Mamedyarov and Tkachiev as well.

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Saturday Chess Puzzles - White Checkmates in Two

Making a habit of solving chess puzzles is one of the best things you could do to improve your chess. Chess magazine B&W presents weekend edition of two chess puzzles. Have fun.

1. White to play and checkmate in two.

Check your answer with Chess King.

2. White to play and checkmate in two.

Check your answer with Chess King.

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Pakistan Chess Champion Mahmood Lodhi Retains National Title With One Round to Go

Pakistan National Chess Champ Mahmood Lodhi

This chess news comes from the beautiful city of Karachi. Defending chess champion Mahmood Ahmed Lodhi won the 28th National Chess Championship with a round to go after a draw  with Waqar Ahmed Madni in the 10th round at Beach Luxury Hotel Hall here on Friday.

Lodhi, Pakistan’s highest rated chess star ever, however, failed to break the 50-year-old record of securing all a perfect 11 points. With nine and half points, Lodhi was assured of the 13th national title. With one round on Saturday, Lodhi was one and a half point ahead of the trio of Anwar Qureshi, Waqar Ahmed Madni and Asif-ur-Rehman, who got seven points apiece.

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World Rapid Chess Championship Day 1 Today: Karjakin, Carlsen Lead After Five Rounds

The world's best players are in Astana for the first-ever World Rapid Chess Championship that began today in Kazakhstan. Five rounds were played on the first day of the tournament. Sergey Karjakin and Magnus Carlsen both notched up four wins and a draw each to lead the field with 4.5 points each.

Karjakin's wins came against Gelfand, Tkachiev, Ismgambetov and Grischuk plus a draw against Topalov in round 5. Carlsen picked up wins against Kazhgaleyev, Morozevich, Bologan, Kurnosov and a draw against Svidler in the third round.

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