World Champion Gukesh D and Magnus Carlsen are among over 360 players confirmed for the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Chess Championship in Doha.
The event from December 25 to 30 features multiple world champions, top-rated competitors, and rising stars in the sport.
A total of 233 players registered for the Blitz Open and 230 for the Rapid. Magnus Carlsen returns to the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz, aiming to unseat the reigning 2024 World Rapid champion, Volodar Murzin, after previously sharing gold in the Blitz and missing out on the Rapid crown in New York.
World Champion Gukesh D has confirmed his attendance, which is anticipated to attract significant public interest. His impressive performance in Zagreb earlier this year positions him as a favorite in the Rapid event.
Many elite players, including 2024 World Blitz co-champion Ian Nepomniachtchi, Fabiano Caruana, Anish Giri, Wesley So, and Levon Aronian, have confirmed their participation. They will be challenged by a new generation of contenders, such as Vincent Keymer, Arjun Erigaisi, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Praggnanandhaa R, Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, and Ediz Gürel, who aim to disrupt the established hierarchies.
Legendary chess players Alexander Grischuk and Vasyl Ivanchuk will return for the competition, much to the public’s delight. The FIDE Women’s Rapid and Blitz will feature a stellar lineup, led by Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun, with 130 players, including Zhu Jiner, Lei Tingjie, Aleksandra Goryachkina, and Humpy Koneru. Anna Muzychuk, a past champion from 2016, will also compete alongside her sister, Mariya.
FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich highlighted the strength and appeal of the World Rapid & Blitz, expressing enthusiasm for the participation of many strong players in both the Open and Women’s competitions. He emphasized the event’s reputation as one of the most exciting and popular in the chess calendar and thanked the local organizing committee for their efforts in ensuring its success.
FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky expresses excitement about the upcoming World Rapid & Blitz Championship, highlighting the strong competition and his dual role as both CEO and chess fan. Mohd Al-Mudahka, President of Qatar Chess Federation, emphasizes Doha’s significance in hosting the championship for the second time, showcasing Qatar’s passion for chess and commitment to excellence in the sport.
The FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Chess Championship will be held in Doha, Qatar, from December 25 to 30, featuring a prize fund exceeding €1,000,000 for both Open and Women’s competitions. Doha previously hosted the event in 2016, where Vasyl Ivanchuk won the Rapid title and Sergey Karjakin became the Blitz World Champion.
