On speed

Although it does not have the prestige of the Classical World Championship (to be staged in London in November), the Rapid and Blitz championships recently concluded in Saudi Arabia carried not just worthy titles, but an impressive overall prize fund of $2 million. Viswanathan Anand emerged victorious in the Rapid, while Magnus Carlsen dominated the Blitz. The only fly in the ointment was the refusal to grant visas to Israeli players, an omission excoriated by Carlsen. This week, key extracts from play in both championships.
 
McShane-Anand, Riyadh Rapid 2017
(see diagram 1)
 
The veteran new champion strikes with a bolt from the blue against a leading British grandmaster and winner of the recent UK Knockout Championship. 51 … Qh3+! 52 Kxh3 Rh1 mate
 
Karjakin-Esipenko, Riyadh Rapid 2017
(see diagram 2)
 
The defending champion is poleaxed by a blow which would have gladdened the heart of Frank Marshall, who crushed Levitsky with an unexpected Queen sacrifice at Breslau 1912.