Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronian is still leading after day three of the Saint Louis Rapid, with France's Maxime Vachier-Lagrave having caught up with him in the rapid and taking a small lead in the overall standings after the first day of the Saint Louis Blitz tournament.
Vachier-Lagrave lost to reigning World Champion Magnus Carlsen in round one and Hungary's Richard Rapport in round two but a win over Aronian to close out the session leaves him with a half point lead, Chessbase says.
Ding Liren and Yu Yangyi remain in third and fourth.
After Cote d'Ivoire, Zagreb and Paris, the 2019 Grand Chess Tour resumed for a month of chess in St. Louis, where the rapid and blitz event will be followed by the seventh edition of the Sinquefield Cup.