Liem, who won the silver medal in his Dortmund debut last year, drew with Geog Meier, the German No 2, in his first match, American Hikaru Nakamura, the world No 6, in his second and nine-time winner Vladimir Kramnik of Russia, in his third.

Liem is currently in third position with Kramnik on top, followed by Ukrainian Ruslan Ponomariov, last year's winner, in second.

The annual competition, open to the world's top six masters only, is taking place from July 21-31 in a theatre at Hiltropwall.