Vietnamese grandmaster Le Quang Liem has qualified for the quarterfinals of the New In Chess Classic after he had finished seventh with 8.5 points in the qualifying round.

The international tournament is held under the online format. After 15 qualifying rounds, the organizers will select eight players with the highest results for the quarterfinals.

Le Quang Liem has advanced into the quarterfinals of the New in Chess Classic. Photo: Continental Chess Association

On the third day of the tournament on April 27, as the group stage drew to a close, the Vietnamese grandmaster needed at least 2.5 points to qualify for the last eight, and he duly achieved it.

In the last five rounds, Liem defeated Indian player Vidit Santosh; drew with American competitor Dominguez Perez Leinier, Azerbaijan player Radjabov Teimour and Norway player Tari Aryan; however, Armenian player Aronian Levon beat him.

Quang Liem did his best on the second day, with three wins, two draws. The Ho Chi Minh City player entered the top 4 after two days of competition, with six points earned across 10 games. He was one point below Magnus Carlsen, who topped the tournament, but only half a point behind Wesley So who was at ninth place.

The two-day quarterfinals (April 27 and 28) involve four rapid chess matches each day with tie-breaks by two blitz chess matches and, if still tied, an armageddon game with white getting more time on the clock. If the result is still a draw, black wins.

The New in Chess Classic is part of the Champion Chess Tour, a 10-month long series of 10 online tournaments featuring the world's top players and with prize money of US$1.5 million.

The New In Chess Classic will last until May 2 and the winner will be received US$100,000.