Starting Friday: Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz

The fourth leg of this year’s Grand Chess Tour, the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz, will be played on August 26-30. The last rapid and blitz event of the series will host ten top players from around the world, including wunderkind Alireza Firouzja, World Championship challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi and defending champion Hikaru Nakamura. Jeffery Xiong (pictured) will replace Richard Rapport, who could not make it to Saint Louis due to travel restrictions related to Covid-19. | Photo: Austin Fuller (2021)