World Rapid and Blitz Team Championship – International Chess Federation

Chess superstars headline a packed World Team Rapid and Blitz Championships in Hong Kong

editor_d — Tue, 19 May 2026 07:07:23 +0000

By Milan Dinic

With less than a month to go to the biggest World Rapid and Blitz team event, the lineups have been revealed. Altogether, 43 teams and more than 300 players are confirmed for the fourth edition of the WTRB.

The leading teams from previous editions, WR Chess, Hexamind, and Team MGD1, all return with stellar lineups. But Hong Kong will also feature notable newcomers, including the all-Chinese Dragon Chilling squad led by Ding Liren.

WR will be the most eye-catching team in Hong Kong and the top favourites for the first spot, having won the inaugural Rapid Championship in 2023 and the Blitz events in 2024 and 2025. Their biggest asset is Magnus Carlsen – currently the only 2800-rated player in the world. Featuring Fabiano Caruana, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Wesley So, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Hou Yifan, and Alexandra Kosteniuk, the lineup resembles a list of top-rated players in the world.

WR’s biggest rivals by rating are Hexamind, with elite players such as Levon Aronian, Anish Giri, Alireza Firouzja, Vidit Gujrathi, Kateryna Lagno, and – the 2024 World Rapid Champion Volodar Murzin. In 2025, they took silver in the Rapid and bronze in the Blitz in London.

Another big contender will be India’s Team MGD1, who has been one of the most consistent sides in the World Rapid and Blitz Teams. In 2023 they took the bronze in Rapid, took silver in the Blitz in 2024 and then won the 2025 World Rapid Team title in London, with 21 match points from 12 rounds. Bringing the core of India’s new generation, the team features some of the most notable young names in chess today – Arjun Erigaisi, Nihal Sarin, Pranav V, Leon Luke Mendonca, as well as Harika Dronavalli.

Another notable Indian-rooted squad in Hong Kong is Chessgurukul. Their lineup includes super-strong young Indian GMs such as Praggnanandhaa R, Aravindh Chithambaram, Vaishali Rameshbabu, and Pranesh M. Built around players closely linked to the Chess Gurukul school and to RB Ramesh’s wider influence on Indian chess, this team can spring a surprise in any match and should be closely watched.

Dragon Chilling has one of the most attractive national-style lineups, led by Ding Liren, Wei Yi, Yu Yangyi, Ju Wenjun, and Lei Tingjie. The biggest news is the return of former World Champion Ding Liren, who has largely retreated from the chess world after his loss to Gukesh in the 2024 match for the world crown. The World Rapid and Blitz Teams in Hong Kong will be the first time since 2024 that Ding plays in a major international event with super-elite players.

Another team from Asia – with a strong track record in the WRBT – is Kazchess, standing out with the heavyweights such as Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Alexander Grischuk, Richard Rapport, Wang Hao (the winner of the inaugural Grand Swiss, in 2019), Bibisara Assaubayeva, and Kazybek Nogerbek.

Uzbekistan has a very serious squad built around Nodirbek Abdusattorov, World Championship Challenger Javokhir Sindarov, as well as their top players Nodirbek Yakubboev, Shamsiddin Vokhidov, and one of the top players from the early 2000s and former FIDE World Champion, Rustam Kasimdzhanov.

Chess United are especially notable because of Viswanathan Anand, Humpy Koneru, Jorden van Foreest, and – the recently confirmed second youngest GM in chess history – Faustino Oro.

Endgame.AI should not be overlooked either, with Hans Niemann, Leinier Dominguez, Amin Tabatabaei, Alexey Sarana, Denis Lazavik, and Zhu Jiner.

The fast chess quality is also very high. Most of the top players of FIDE’s May 2026 Blitz ranking appear in this approved list, with Carlsen, Firouzja, Arjun, Artemiev, Vachier-Lagrave, Aronian, Anand, and Caruana all present.

WR Chess is the glamour team of the 2026 WRB Teams event, but several rival squads have enough star power to challenge them. The fact that teams have to include not only pros but also recreational players whose performance can vary makes it hard to predict anything but a big show in Hong Kong.

The full list of teams and lineups is available on the event website: Registered teams

About the Hong Kong WTRBC edition

The 2026 edition will take place in Hong Kong during the event week of 16 to 22 June. The competition days are scheduled for 17 to 21 June at Queen Elizabeth Stadium. Rapid will be played as a Swiss event over 12 rounds from 17 to 19 June, with a time control of 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move. Blitz follows on 20 and 21 June, beginning with pools before a 16 team knockout. The blitz time control is 3 minutes plus 2 seconds.

The total prize fund is €500,000. Rapid receives €310,000, while blitz receives €190,000. The rapid champions will earn €110,000, and the blitz champions €75,000.

The other major addition is the inaugural FIDE World Team Amateur Rapid Chess Cup, which will run alongside the main championship. That gives the 2026 edition a broader festival shape and reinforces the event’s central idea of bringing elite and amateur chess closer together.

About the Word Team Rapid & Blitz Championships

The FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Championships began in 2023 in Düsseldorf. The first edition featured rapid chess only. Blitz was added in 2024, turning it into the current two-title event. Three editions have been completed so far, in Düsseldorf, Astana, and London. Hong Kong 2026 will be the fourth.

Clubs, companies, federations, and independent groups to enter the competition. Every match is played over six boards. Each team must include at least one female player and at least one recreational player, defined as someone who has never reached a FIDE rating of 2000 in standard, rapid, or blitz.

The rapid title was won by WR Chess in 2023, Al-Ain ACMG UAE in 2024, and Team MGD1 in 2025. Blitz was added to the programme in 2024. WR Chess won that title in both 2024 and 2025.

Tickets now on sale for the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2026

editor_d — Fri, 01 May 2026 11:28:38 +0000

The FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2026 will be held at Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Hong Kong from June 17 to 21, marking the first time the event is hosted in East Asia. With 42 teams and more than 300 players confirmed, including seven of the world’s top ten male players and four of the world’s top ten female players, the championship brings the global chess spotlight to Hong Kong on an unprecedented scale.The field features World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and women’s World No. 1 Hou Yifan, both returning with reigning Blitz champions WR Chess. Fans will also witness the most recent Candidates winners up close, Javokhir Sindarov and Vaishali Rameshbabu, who arrive in Hong Kong fresh from securing their World Championship matches in Cyprus.

You can now secure your seats through the official ticketing platform, URBTIX, and choose between single-day tickets and multi-day packages.

Single-day tickets

17 June, Rapid Day 1: HK$250
18 June, Rapid Day 2: HK$250
19 June, Rapid Day 3: HK$300
20 June, Blitz Day 1: HK$300
21 June, Blitz Day 2: HK$380

Package event passes

Full Rapid Pass (17-19 June): HK$688
Full Blitz Pass (20-21 June): HK$538
5-Day All-Access Pass (17-21 June): HK$1,088

Early bird offer

A discount of HK$100 is available on any package event pass purchased on or before 17 May. Terms and conditions apply.

Tournament Village open to the public, free of charge

Alongside the main competition, a dedicated Tournament Village will be open to the public free of charge, welcoming visitors of all ages. The Village is divided into three thematic zones covering traditional mind sports, emerging intellectual activities, and tabletop gaming, offering something for every generation.

The event will also host the 2nd Asian Mind Sports Carnival, organised in conjunction with the Asian Mind Sports Association. The Carnival is set to bring together over 1,000 competitors from across the continent, taking part in more than ten disciplines including chess, bridge, Go, Xiangqi, and the Rubik’s Cube.

Book your seats

Tickets are available now at www.urbtix.hk/event-detail/15075.

For more information, visit the official FIDE website.

World Team Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships 2026: Hong Kong debuts as global chess hub

editor_d — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:31:06 +0000

Hong Kong, April 29, 2026 – Organized by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and the Hong Kong China Chess Federation Limited, the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2026 will be held in Hong Kong for the very first time, taking place from June 17 to 21, 2026, at Queen Elizabeth Stadium.

The tournament, which establishes Hong Kong as the epicenter of the chess world, will convene 42 teams and more than 300 world-class players from across the globe, all competing for a total prize purse of €500,000. The event is anticipated to attract players and tourists from more than 50 countries, significantly boosting the development of the city’s sports tourism and related industries and further solidifying Hong Kong’s position as a centre for major international sports events.

The fourth edition of the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships also marks its inaugural appearance in East Asia. In gathering the world’s elite players in Hong Kong, the tournament promises a showcase of high-level matchups, defined by its rapid pace and dynamic complexity. For audiences, it is an opportunity to witness first-hand the strategic brilliance and real-time decision-making of global masters, offering an immersive insight into the captivating world of international chess.

Best grandmasters to gather in Hong Kong

Around 50 of the top 100 players, from both the men’s and women’s categories, have confirmed their attendance, making this the strongest field in the event’s history. Among them are seven of the world’s top ten male players and four of the world’s top ten female players, including current World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and women’s World No. 1 Hou Yifan.

Reigning Blitz champion WR Chess Team has confirmed that Magnus Carlsen will be returning to board 1, alongside Fabiano Caruana on board 2, with Maxime Vachier-Lagrave also joining the lineup. Their women’s boards remain unchanged, with Hou Yifan and Alexandra Kosteniuk. Six Hong Kong teams will compete, providing local players with a rare and invaluable opportunity to compete alongside the world’s elite.

Women’s World No. 1 Ms. Hou Yifan remarked, “I am eagerly anticipating the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Hong Kong. This is more than just a matchup of minds featuring the world’s elite. It is a pivotal milestone that will elevate the profile of chess across Greater China. As a premier international city with world-class facilities and a vibrant community, Hong Kong is perfectly positioned to bring its unique vibrance to this prestigious tournament.”

Arkady Dvorkovich, President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), said, “FIDE is truly delighted to learn that Hong Kong is hosting the tournament. In recent years, we have watched your city grow into a genuine powerhouse of the game. One of the key pillars of this revival has been the hard work and enthusiasm of the Hong Kong China Chess Federation. We believe Hong Kong is the perfect stage for expanding this collaboration, and we look forward to seeing you all in Hong Kong this June.”

Geoffrey Kao, Honorary President of the Hong Kong China Chess Federation, said, “We are honoured to partner with the International Chess Federation (FIDE) to bring this world-class tournament to Hong Kong. This event gathers the world’s most distinguished chess elite. While past editions have predominantly been held in Europe, its relocation to Hong Kong this year signifies a historic shift, bringing the global chess spotlight to Asia—and specifically to Hong Kong – on an unprecedented scale. With participants expected from over 50 countries, the tournament will be broadcast globally via major media and live-streaming platforms, allowing millions of spectators to discover and engage with our city. This is more than just a sporting spectacle; it serves as a vital window to showcase Hong Kong’s internationalism, vibrant dynamism, and unique urban charm to the world, further solidifying Hong Kong’s status as the Premier Hub for Mega Events.”

George TSOI, JP, Commissioner for Sports, Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, said, “Today marks a significant milestone for our city’s sporting calendar as we announce the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2026. We are excited to welcome hundreds of elite grandmasters. By hosting this prestigious event, we are providing a platform for local athletes to sharpen their skills on home soil, and for the broader community to engage with and enjoy the sport. I would like to express my gratitude to FIDE and the Hong Kong China Chess Federation for their relentless efforts in bringing the Championships to Hong Kong.”

M Mark Event

The FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2026 has been awarded “M” Mark status by the Major Sports Events Committee, symbolizing an intense, spectacular, and signature event in the territory’s sports calendar, which helps enhance the image of Hong Kong as a centre for major international sports events.

Mixed team format with total prize fund of €500,000

Following three successful editions in Düsseldorf (2023), Astana (2024), and London (2025), the championship returns with an exciting format: mixed teams where elite professionals and recreational players compete side by side across rapid and blitz events. Every match is played on six boards, and each team must include at least one female player and at least one recreational player, defined as someone who has never achieved a FIDE rating of 2000 or higher in standard, rapid, or blitz.

The FIDE World Team Rapid Chess Championship will be played as a 12-round Swiss tournament across three days (June 17-19), with four rounds per day and a time control of 15 minutes for the whole game plus a 10-second increment per move. The FIDE World Team Blitz Chess Championship follows on June 20 and 21, beginning with pool stages before moving to a knockout format for the top 16 teams, with a time control of 3 minutes plus a 2-second increment per move.

The total prize fund across both championships is €500,000. The Rapid Champion team will receive €110,000, with the Blitz Champion team taking home €75,000.

Tickets now on sale – enjoy exclusive early bird discount

The public can now secure their tickets via the official ticketing platform www.urbtix.hk. One-day tickets range from HK$250 to HK$380. Package Deals are also available: 3-day Rapid Chess package (June 17-19) HK$688; 2-day Blitz Chess package (June 20-21) HK$538; 5-day All Access package (June 17-21) HK$1,088. An early bird discount of HK$100 is available for any package purchased on or before May 17.

FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2026: Top teams already confirmed for Hong Kong

editor_d — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:05:54 +0000

The fourth edition of the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships will take place from 16 to 22 June in Hong Kong, marking the event’s first appearance in East Asia. Since its inaugural edition in Düsseldorf in 2023, this championship has grown into one of the most anticipated events on the calendar, bringing together world-class grandmasters and rising talents in a format unlike any other in competitive chess. It is one of the rare occasions in international chess where world-class players can be seen forming their own squads and playing as a team, something that is almost never seen outside of the Chess Olympiad.

Top teams have already confirmed their participation, featuring some of the biggest names in the game, including world number one Magnus Carlsen, alongside the most recent FIDE Candidates and Women’s Candidates winners, Javokhir Sindarov and Vaishali Rameshbabu.

The Rapid Championship will be played as a 12-round Swiss tournament across three days, with four rounds per day and a time control of 15 minutes plus a 10-second increment. The Blitz Championship follows on 20 and 21 June, beginning with pool stages before moving to a knockout format for the top 16 teams, with a time control of 3 minutes plus a 2-second increment. The total prize fund across both championships is €500,000, with the Rapid champion team receiving €110,000 and the Blitz champion team taking home €75,000.

Registration is well underway, and a number of formidable teams have already confirmed their participation.

WR Chess return as defending Blitz champions with a stellar lineup: Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Wesley So, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Andrey Esipenko, Alexandra Kosteniuk, and Hou Yifan. Carlsen and Caruana playing on the same team is a rare sight, and WR Chess will once again be the team to beat.

Uzbekistan, captained by former FIDE World Champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov, bring Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Javokhir Sindarov, Nodirbek Yakubboev, Shamsiddin Vokhidov, Mukhiddin Madaminov, alongside Afruza Khamdamova and Umida Omonova. Sindarov arrives in exceptional form after winning the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament with a round to spare. Seeing him compete alongside Abdusattorov and his Uzbek teammates offers a preview ahead of the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand later this year, where Uzbekistan will be amongst the favourites on home soil.

Dragon Chilling bring together former World Champion Ding Liren and reigning Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun in a powerhouse Chinese squad that also features Wei Yi, Yu Yangyi, Lu Shanglei, Bai Jinshi, and Lei Tingjie. The team name itself is a playful nod to the viral “Ding Chilling” moment during the 2024 World Championship match.

Hexamind Chess Team return after an impressive second-place finish in the Rapid at last year’s edition in London. This time, their lineup includes Alireza Firouzja, Anish Giri, Levon Aronian, Volodar Murzin, and Kateryna Lagno.

Chessgurukul feature Vaishali Rameshbabu, fresh from her historic victory at the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates, playing alongside her brother Praggnanandhaa, Aravindh Chithambaram, Pranesh Munirethinam, and Karthikeyan Murali. Vaishali became the first Indian woman to win the Candidates and will challenge Ju Wenjun for the Women’s World Championship, meaning both challenger and champion will be competing in Hong Kong on rival teams.

Chess United bring five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand together with former Women’s World Rapid Champion Humpy Koneru, Jorden van Foreest, and Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara. Their roster also includes Roman Shogdzhiev, the youngest International Master in history at the age of 10, and Tunde Onakaya, the founder of Chess in Slums Africa and Guinness World Record holder for the longest marathon chess game.

Several other strong teams have also registered, including Chessnut Nova (featuring Raunak Sadhwani, Daniel Dardha, and MarcAndria Maurizzi), Global Ramblers (with Alexei Shirov and Alexander Motylev), and the Farm – Valera Chess Training team (with the legendary Vasyl Ivanchuk). Teams representing Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Spain, Australia, and many more regions are also set to compete, reinforcing truly international scope of this event.

Register your team

The registration deadline is May 15, 2026, 12:00 pm Lausanne time. The playing venue capacity is limited to 42 teams, with places allocated based on the highest team ratings and earliest registration, alongside six wildcard entries from the organisers. The entry fee is €1,000 per team.

Each team must consist of a minimum of six and a maximum of nine players, including at least one female player and at least one recreational player. Full regulations and the registration form are available on the official event website.

Registration form: https://formdesigner.pro/form/view/243338

Regulations (PDF)

Contact: hkchessevent@gmail.com

Photos: Rafal Oleksiewicz and Michal Walusza

Media accreditation open for the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Teams 2026

editor_d — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:53:20 +0000

FIDE is pleased to announce the opening of media accreditation to for the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2026.

Dates: June 16 – 20, 2026
Location: Hong Kong, China

The World Rapid and Blitz Teams, which FIDE launched in 2023, is a unique chess competition where elite professionals, recreational players – both men and women – compete on the same team in a serious world event. With the knockout format and rapid and blitz games, the event is naturally built for spectators.

The tournament is also growing at remarkable pace, drawing global chess spotlight as well as top world players such as Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Alireza Firouzja, Hou Yifan, and others.

Media registration form: https://worldrapidblitzteams2026.fide.com/mediaregistration

Official website: http://worldrapidblitzteams2026.fide.com/

We invite all media representatives wishing to cover the tournaments to submit their accreditation applications via the media registration form above.

Accreditation is open for all members of the written press, photographic press, online media, and writers and photographers working for publications and/or websites of the FIDE National Member Federations.

Accredited event media will collect their badges onsite at the events. A valid travel document containing a photo must be presented to receive media accreditation.

The event organisers will ensure a comfortable working environment for all Accredited Media, providing a range of facilities and services at the level established at major FIDE events.

We look forward to your coverage of the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2026!

Regulations published for the 2026 FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Hong Kong

editor_d — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:55:46 +0000

With the publication of the official regulations, preparations are now fully underway for the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2026, which will take place in Hong Kong from 16 to 22 June. Following successful editions in Düsseldorf, Astana, and London, the championship returns with the concept that has made it popular among players and fans: mixed teams combining elite professionals with recreational players competing side by side in rapid and blitz formats.

Team composition

Every match is played on six boards and must meet the following requirements:

This structure allows teams to combine world-class grandmasters with club players, creating a format where amateurs can share the same stage as some of the strongest players in the world.

Tournament schedule

The competition will begin with the World Team Rapid Chess Championship, followed by the World Team Blitz Chess Championship later in the week. Full details of the playing schedule and prize fund are available in the official regulations.

Registration

Team registration for the championship will open next week. Clubs, companies, federations, and independent teams from around the world will be eligible to enter.

Further information on the registration process will be published closer to the opening date.

Top players expected

The event has consistently attracted many of the world’s strongest players. According to WR Chess, Magnus Carlsen is expected to return to the championship this year as part of their team, adding further star power to the competition.

In previous editions, the tournament has featured numerous top players competing alongside amateurs and rising talents, producing a dynamic atmosphere rarely seen in traditional elite events.

Regulations (PDF)

Official website: https://worldrapidblitzteams2026.fide.com/

Amateur teams to compete alongside the elite

Alongside the main championship, Hong Kong will also host the inaugural FIDE World Team Amateur Rapid Chess Cup, running from 16 to 22 June 2026. The event is designed specifically for amateur players and will allow club teams, friends, and local groups to take part in the same international chess festival.

Open to teams of six players who have never achieved a FIDE rating of 2000 or higher, the tournament will be played with a rapid time control of 15 minutes plus a 10-second increment. The competition will feature a two-stage format, culminating in final matches to determine the champion.

By staging the Amateur Rapid Cup alongside the elite team championship, players will experience the atmosphere of a major international event while competing for their own title.

With the regulations now published and teams beginning to form their lineups, attention turns to Hong Kong, where several days of fast-paced team chess will bring together players from across the world.

Regulations (PDF)

Official event website: http://worldteamamateurrapid2026.hkchessevent.com

Contact: hkchessevent@gmail.com

WR Chess clinch their second FIDE World Team Blitz Championship title

editor_d — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 20:22:43 +0000

In the final stage of the knockouts at the FIDE World Blitz Team Championship, WR Chess defeated KazChess in both matches with 4:2, securing their second Blitz crown since the competition began in 2023.

The FIDE World Blitz Championship concluded today in London after a day of tense final-stage matches. Out of 53 teams playing on the first day, only 16 advanced to the knockout stage that included the round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and the final. In each knockout pairing, teams played at least two matches, alternating colours. If the score was level after two matches, additional games were played until a winner emerged.

At the end of the day, rating favourites Team WR Chess came out on top, outplaying the squad of KazChess in a tight final duel. WR won both matches (4:2 each), with Alireza Firouzja, Hikaru Nakamura and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave scoring crucial wins in the final match to secure the crown for WR Chess.

This is the second consecutive Blitz title for WR Chess, following their in 2024 in Kazakhstan. In his first reaction to the victory, WR Chess Team owner and one of the initiators of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Teams, Wadim Rosenstein, said he was very pleased with the victory, adding that the event was a great success “not just for the winners but for chess in general”. Asked how it feels to win first place, Rosenstein – who also played on the non-professional board for WR – briefly responded: “Like always, when you win – it feels great”.

In addition to receiving a trophy shaped like a fusion of Big Ben and a chess piece, the winning team was awarded a €75,000 prize.

Third place went to the Hexamind Chess Club, who defeated the squad of Uzbekistan in both matches with 3.5:2.5.

Meanwhile, the winners of this year’s rapid tournament, MGD1, defeated Freedom in the duel for fifth place.

In his address at the closing ceremony, former World Champion and Deputy President of International Chess Federation (FIDE) Viswanathan Anand reflected on the excitement and the intensity of the tournament. He congratulated all 53 teams for participating, particularly the winners.

Anand also expressed deep gratitude to Isai Scheinberg for supporting this event. He closed by emphasizing FIDE’s ongoing commitment to growing the game.

“A core part of our strategy has always been to forge a strong partnership between chess and the broader community – from the world of sports, business, or culture. Tournaments such as the World Rapid and Blitz Teams, alongside events such as the World Corporate Championship, are a shining example of this vision in action and FIDE will continue to work hard on having more of them”, Anand said.

Here is a closer look at how the knockouts unfolded, until the finals:

Round of 16

In this stage all of the first-placed teams from the pools won their matches. While WR Chess Team, Freedom and MGD1 Team won both matches, Uzbekistan had one victory and one draw (with Barys.kz).

Ashdod moved to the quarter-finals after defeating Theme International Trading in the playoffs with 5:1. KazChess also reached the quarter-finals after the playoffs, defeating Rookies with 5.5:0.5.

Quarter-finals

The quarter-final stage brought the first big surprises, with some of the favourites being eliminated from the tournament.

In the first match, Germany and Friends set up the stage for a huge upset by defeating WR Chess 4:2. All WR’s top boards – Nepomniachtchi, Nakamura and Firouzja lost their games. However, WR appealed the match on the grounds that they were not informed of the exact time when the round was starting, making them late two minutes.

While it would have made sense for them to immediately make an appeal before playing the match, WR complained afterwards. As WR Chess Team captain Jan Gustafsson explained in the live broadcast, the teams were given different information about the start of the round compared to when it started. In the end, it was decided that the match will be replayed. Germany and Friends reluctantly accepted. This time, WR Chess won 4.5:1.5 and the return match finishing with a 4:2 victory for WR Chess, sending them to the semi-finals.

All other first-matches ended in draws. In the return matches – Hexamind eliminated the Rapid winners MGD1 with 4:2. The duel was decided by Hexamind’s Anish Giri who defeated Pentala Harikrishna in a tense endgame.

KazChess outclassed Freedom by winning the second match 3.5:2.5. The team from Kazakhstan defeated all the top three boards of Freedom, to secure a spot in the semi-finals. Uzbekistan won over the team of Ashdod 5:1, securing a place in the semis.

The semi-finals

WR Chess faced the team of Hexamind. In the first match, WR completely dominated, scoring a crushing victory 5.5:0.5. On Hexamind’s side only Leinier Dominguez drew, splitting a point with Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. In the other semi-final encounter, Uzbekistan and KazChess played a tightly contested match, with Grischuk defeating Abdusattorov on the top board, in a tense endgame where both were in a time scramble.

In the return-match, Hexamind pushed hard against WR to get a playoff. Aronian beat Nepomniachtchi on board one, but boards two and three drew. The match was decided on the lower boards, where WR won two games: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave beat Leinier Dominguez, and Wadim Rosenstein defeated David Muradyan.

Despite Divya Desmukh prevailing over Hou Yifan on the women’s board, the final result was 3:3, which meant Hexamind were knocked out.

In the second return-duel, KazChess defeated Uzbekistan 4:2, thanks to crucial wins on the bottom boards.

The match for the fifth place

Two of the best performing teams that were eliminated in the semi-finals faced off in a match for fifth place. In the end, MGD1 emerged victorious, after defeating Freedom in both matches with 3.5:2.5.

The teams of Ashdod and Germany and Friends tied for 7-8th place.

Written by Milan Dinic

Photos: Rafal Oleksiewicz

Official website: worldrapidblitzteams2025.fide.com/

About the event:

The third edition of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships took place in London, United Kingdom, between June 10 and 16, 2025.

The event was open to teams from all over the world. Teams can be made of club members, members of different federations, or any other chess players. Altogether, 52 teams are taking part in the Rapid World Championship.

The total prize fund is €500,000 (£421,000), €310,000 went to the Rapid tournament, €190,000 was allocated for the Blitz.

WBTC 2025: Favourites deliver as 16 teams move into knockouts

editor_d — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 22:18:45 +0000

After three days and 12 rounds of Rapid, things got hotter in London as the FIDE World Blitz Team kicked off. Following 13 rounds of fast-paced action, 16 out of 53 teams have advanced to the final playoff stage on Sunday.

The blitz competition is split in two stages. On day one, the teams were divided into four equally strong pools, playing in a round-robin format. There were four pools – three had 13 teams, while Pool D had 14. The top four teams in each pool qualified for the knockout playoffs, which are taking place on Sunday, June 15.

In Pool A, WR Chess, Ashdod Elit Chess Club, Knight Dance and FIDE Management Board Tram advanced to the knockouts.

WR Team won all of their matches, with the closest they came to a struggle being the round six match against The MongolZ squad, which ended with a narrow win, 3.5:2.5. In that match, WR’s Hou Yifan, the world’s top-rated female player, lost to more than 500 points lower-rated Khishigbat Ulziikhishig.

WR was significantly strengthened by the late arrival of Ian Nepomniachtchi, who received his UK visa just in time to play in the Blitz. The big hero of the day for WR was Poland’s Jan-Krzysztof Duda who scored 11.5 points out of 12 games on one of the top boards.

In a big surprise of the day, 13-year-old IM Ahmad Khagan (2290) from Turkish Airlines stunned GM Hikaru Nakamura (2837) in round five. Visibly upset, Nakamura didn’t even set up his pieces back, as is customary after the game, and just walked out of the playing hall. During the day, Khagan proved his victory was not an accident – he won 9 out of 13 games, facing strong grandmasters.

Ashdod dropped just one match – a 1.5:4.5 loss to WR Team – drew another and won the rest to comfortably secure second place, with 21 matchpoints. Their standout performer was Aldiyar Sailaubay on the amateur board, who scored 9.5/12.

Knight Dance finished third with 19 matchpoints, despite two losses and a draw. Close behind were the FIDE Management Board Tram, who secured fourth place on 17 matchpoints. Zhu Chen and non-professional standout Stepan Zaiarski played key roles in their qualification.

From Pool B, Freedom, Hexamind, Theme International Trading and Malcolm’s Mates moved to the knockout phase. In round 10, Freedom suffered a defeat at the hands of Theme International Trading, but that didn’t endanger their spot in the knockouts. Freedom’s Le Quang Liem and Haik Martirosyan were the best performers, scoring 8.5 points out of the nine games they played.

Despite losing a match to Freedom (4.5:1.5), Hexamind stormed through in all other matches to enter the knockouts in shared first place in Pool B. Both Freedom and Hexamind ended the day with 22 matchpoints.

Theme International Trading recovered from a stunning 6:0 opening loss to Hexamind to finish third with 19 matchpoints. Fourth place went to the British squad Malcolm’s Mates, with 18 matchpoints which was greatly helped by GM Luke McShane who won 10 out of 12 games.

In Pool C, the most consistent performance was delivered by Team Uzbekistan, who entered the final round with two matchpoints ahead of the field. Their star player, Nodirbek Yakubboev, had a great run, scoring 9.5 points out of 12.

Germany and Friends, led by Vincent Keymer, came in second place after losing just one match – to Uzbekistan. They finished on 22 matchpoints.

Rookies took third place with 20 matchpoints, despite losses to the top two teams. Generation XYZA claimed the final qualifying spot with 17 matchpoints, even after losing to all three teams above them. Notably, XYZA’s Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus topped individual scoring in Pool C with 10/12.

Pool D saw the favourites – 2025 World Rapid champions MGD1 – advance alongside KazChess, Hetman GKS Katowice, and Barys.kz.

MGD1 made just one draw (with fifth-placed Team Hungary) and won all other matches, ending the day on 23 matchpoints. The Indian team scored five match victories in which they won all six games – the most of all top-placed teams in the Blitz, across all groups. Their top-performing player was board one Arjun Erigaisi, who made 11 points out of 13 games.

With 22 matchpoints, KazChess was second. Their non-professional player Islam Aiten made the biggest contribution having won 12 out of 13 games.

Hetman GKS Katowice took third place with 20 matchpoints. Their top board, GM David Navara, was instrumental in their success with a score of 11/13.

Barys.kz clinched the final knockout spot in Pool D with a commanding 6:0 win over Perfect in the last round, finishing on 17 matchpoints.

The knockouts

With the pool stages now concluded, the focus shifts to Sunday’s knockout rounds, where the 16 qualifiers will battle for the title of the 2025 FIDE World Blitz Chess Champion.

With the stakes rising and a sharper, knockout format – it promises to be an exciting closing to a spectacular week of chess.

FIDE World Blitz Team Championship – Knockout pairings

Written by Milan Dinic

Photos: Rafal Oleksiewicz

Official website: worldrapidblitzteams2025.fide.com/

About the event:

The third edition of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships is taking place in London, United Kingdom, between June 10 and 16, 2025.

The event is open to teams from all over the world. Teams can be made of club members, members of different federations, or any other chess players. Altogether, 52 teams are taking part in the Rapid World Championship.

The total prize fund is €500,000 (£421,000), €310,000 will go to the Rapid tournament, €190,000 is earmarked for the Blitz.

India’s Team MGD1 win 2025 FIDE World Rapid Team Chess Championship

editor_d — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 22:03:20 +0000

The rapid section of the 2025 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Teams ended with a commanding finish by MGD1, who won all four matches on the final day to claim sole first place.

The FIDE World Rapid Teams Chess Championship wrapped up in London today, with the last four of the 12 rounds played. As the competition neared its end, MGD1 and Hexamind distinguished themselves as the prime contenders for the title.

In the decisive four rounds of the day, the Indian squad of Team MGD1 won every match, rightfully claiming the championship. Out of 12 matches, MGD1 won in 10, drew one and lost one, finishing with 21 matchpoints. A key factor in MGD1’s sustained success was the consistent performance of their amateur board player, Atharvaa P Tayade, who held a perfect record throughout the three-day-long tournament, only to spoil it in the last round with his only loss. In the final round, MGD1’s Pranav V defeated Ivan Šarić of Malcolm’s Mates, to secure the match – and sole first place for his team.

Second place went to Hexamind Chess Team, who sprung to the top on day two and maintained their strong performance until the end, chasing MGD1 all the way through to the final round. They started the day with a draw with Freedom, but then won all three remaining matches, securing sole second place, on 20 matchpoints, just one behind MGD1.

Freedom, a team featuring the former world champion Vishy Anand, had a mixed performance on the final day, with three draws. It was only thanks to their dominant 4.5:1.5 final round victory over Knight Dance that they managed to tie for third place, alongside the teams of Uzbekistan and WR Chess, all on 17 matchpoints.

Rating favouries of the event, team WR Chess, had a strong performance winning in rounds nine, ten and eleven. But in the final round – in a game full of twists – Alireza Firouzja slipped against Nodirbek Abdusattorov, handing Team Uzbekistan the match and a share of third place.

Get ready for the FIDE World Team Blitz Championship

On Saturday, June 14, the action shift to the blitz format. With faster time controls, more rounds and a knockout stage on day two – the FIDE World Blitz Team Championship promises even more drama, both on the boards and for the spectators.

Adding to the excitement, one of the world’s strongest players – two-time world champion candidate – Ian Nepomniachtchi, will be joining the lineup of WR Chess.

The games start on Saturday, June 14, at 2PM.

Here follows a closer look at the decisive four rounds of the FIDE World Rapid Team Chess Championship:

U.S. Grandmaster Kenneth Rogoff – a renowned Harvard economist and the former Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund – made the first ceremonial first move at the start of the day.

Playing on the top tables, Freedom split two points with Hexamind who had surged to the top after a great run on day two. Sam Sevian defeated Volodar Murzin with the black pieces, giving Freedom the advantage. Despite the promising start for Freedom with a win and good positions, most of the remaining games ended in draws. On the women’s board, Freedom’s Anna Muzychuk was an exchange down against Divya Deshmukh, but miraculously escaped with a draw. David Muradyan, beat Sarbartho Mani on the amateur board and helped Hexamind to save the match – 3:3.

Tournament leaders MGD1 defeated KazChess 3.5:2.5 which allowed them to again take the sole lead in the tournament. Arjun Erigaisi beat Richard Rapport on the top board, but MGD1’s Pentala Harikrishna lost on the second. As on several occasions during the tournament, MGD1 were rescued by their amateur board, Atharvaa P Tayade, who maintained a perfect record since round one.

Following a very long and complicated game, Vincent Keymer prevailed over Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov to secure victory for Germany and Friends 3.5:2.5. WR Chess edged past Knight Dance, led by Jorden van Foreest, keeping them close to the top. Malcolm’s Mates lost to the Ashdod Elit Chess Club 3.5:2.5, falling lower in the standings.

Then came round 10 and Team MGD1 narrowly defeated Ashdod Elit Chess Club with 3.5:2.5. Ashdod’s Andrei Volokitin got into trouble early on against Pranav and ended up losing. However, on the women’s board, MGD1’s Stavroula Tsolakidou, lost (recording her third defeat in a row), leveling the score for Ashdod. With the other top boards ending in a draw, it came down to the non-professional player, Atharvaa P Tayade who – once again – saved the day for MGD1, winning the game and securing a victory for his team.

While MGD1 struggled but gritted out a victory, team Hexamind cruised through round 10, clearing Germany and Friends with 4.5:1.5. Save for Keymer and Svane who drew their games, the other top player of Germany and Friends – Bluebaum, Donchenko and Wagner all lost, while the non-professional player Bohdan Lobkin drew.

WR delivered a dominating performance against Tema Hungary, defeating them 5.5:0.5. On the other hand, Freedom had another draw – splitting two points with the team of Uzbekistan, with all six games ending in draws.

Round eleven brought another win for Team MGD1: they played Team International Trading, defeating them with 4.5:1.5. Having faced all the best performing and top-rated teams in the tournament, MGD1 was paired against squads which were slightly lower on the scoreboard at the finish, making things somewhat easier. Atharvaa P Tayade won his ninth game in a row.

Hexamind continued chasing MGD1, as they also won – defeating Barys.kz 3.5:2.5. Leinier Dominguez Perez was the only Hexamind player to stumble, losing to nearly 200 points lower-rated Denis Makhnev. WR Chess scored their third victory in the day – overpowering Germany and Friends 4:2, winning on all three top boards.

Freedom, on the other hand, suffered a setback against the squad of the Ashdod Elit Chess Club. Rauf Mamedov blundered a pawn and lost to Nihal Sarin. Freedom also dropped the non-professional board. While Sam Sevian struck back against Pavel Eljanov, Freedom’s women’s board Teodora Injac found herself a piece down in a difficult endgame, losing to Yuliia Osmak. Luckily, Freedom’s last board came through to level the match.

Malcolm’s Mates beat the strong squad of KazChess 4:2, catching up with the top teams ahead of the final round.

A notable moment from Round 11 came in the match between Knight Dance and Team Hungary. On the women’s board, Hungary’s IM Zsoka Gaal successfully claimed a draw – remarkably, the repeated position occurred on moves 72, 74 and again on move 94. Spotting this across such a long game, under extreme time pressure, requires razor-sharp memory and focus.

In the 12th and final round, leaders MGD1 played the British team of Malcolm’s Mates. All eyes were on this match as, despite being the leaders through the event, MGD1 had to win to claim sole first place. On board one, MGD1’s Arjun Erigaisi defeated Luke McShane to give his team the edge. With board two, three and the women’s board all drawn – and two games still in play – everything was up in the air. The decisive blow in the match came from Pranav V on board four, who outplayed the Croatian GM Ivan Šarić to seal the match – and the championship – for MGD1.

One of the best performing players in the tournament, MGD1’s Atharvaa P Tayade – lost his final game, spoiling the perfect score of 11 straight wins.

Hexamind scored a dominating 4.5:1.5 victory over Ashdod, with Aronian, Santosh, Giri and Muradyan all winning their games. Team Freedom scored a comfortable 4.5:1.5 victory over the squad of Knight Dance.

In one of the toughest matchups of the round, WR Chess faced Uzbekistan. With WR’s Rosenstein losing on the non-professional board, Uzbekistan took the lead. Wesley So then equalised for WR, beating Shamsiddin Vokhidov. With all other games ending in a draw, the outcome of the match hinged on the game on board one, between Alireza Firouzja and Nodirbek Abdusattorov.

Playing as Black, Abdusattorov emerged with two rooks for a queen. In a sharp endgame, under severe time pressure for both, the Uzbek star blundered and was completely lost. Just a few moves later, Firouzja returned the favour with a disastrous mistake of his own from which there was no coming back. The match ended 3.5:2.5 in favour of Uzbekistan.

Written by Milan Dinic

Photos: Rafal Oleksiewicz

Official website: worldrapidblitzteams2025.fide.com/

About the event:

The third edition of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships is taking place in London, United Kingdom, between June 10 and 16, 2025.

The event is open to teams from all over the world. Teams can be made of club members, members of different federations or any other chess players. Altogether, 52 teams are taking part in the Rapid World Championship.

The total prize fund is €500,000 (£421,000), €310,000 will go to the Rapid tournament, €190,000 is earmarked for the Blitz.

FIDE WRBTC 2025: Hexamind level with MGD1 at the top after three key wins

editor_d — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 21:13:30 +0000

Day two of the FIDE World Teams Rapid Championship brought unexpected turns, as underdogs broke through and favourites faltered.

With six match victories, one draw and one loss each, Hexamind and team MGD1 share first place with 13 matchpoints. Freedom and Uzbekistan follow closely behind, on 12, with Germany and Friends joining them after a standout performance. Tournament favourites WR Chess are in sixth place, with their title hopes dented by back-to-back losses.

More intensity and pressure

The stakes went up, and the matches became tougher as the FIDE World Rapid moved to its second day, with four more rounds taking place. The ceremonial first move was made by Lord Dafydd Wigley, a prominent Welsh and British politician between 1980 and 2000 and Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on chess in the British parliament.

Team MGD1 continued their strong performance, maintaining the lead through the day, winning two matches and drawing one. A key factor in MGD1’s success so far has been their amateur board player, Atharvaa P Tayade (rated 1952; pictured below), who has won all eight of his games.

After a draw with Freedom in round five, the Indian-led team overcame top seeds WR Chess in round six with 4:2. In round seven, following a tough match, MGD1 scored a narrow 3.5:2.5 victory over Germany and Friends (which moved up the scoreboard, stunning Freedom in round six and finishing the day with a confident 4.5:1.5 victory over Malcolm’s Mates).

However, in the final-eight round of the day, MGD1 was facing Hexamind. The team led by Levon Aronian had a great run on day two, drawing with Freedom and defeating WR and Turkish Airlines with 4:2, to reach second place before the final round.

Rating favourites WR had a bruising day. They started well with a victory over Malcolm’s Mates, but then had two back-to-back defeats in rounds six and seven, to MGD1 and Hexamind. A 4.5:1.5. victory in round eight against Barys from Kazakhstan helped salvage some ground.

In the final match of the day, Hexamind (with Volodar Murzin on board one instead of Levon Aronian) came out as winners, delivering a crushing 4:2 blow to MGD1, tying for first place.

Here follows a closer look at the developments in rounds five to eight in the FIDE World Rapid Teams Championship:

In round five, playing on the top tables, day one leaders Team MGD1 faced Freedom. Former World Champion Vishy Anand secured Freedom an early lead after dismantling world number three player, Arjun Erigaisi with black pieces. The match finished 3:3, with all other games ending in a draw, and Freedom’s non-professional player Sarbartho Mani succumbed to Atharvaa Tayade of MGD1.

The British squad Malcolm’s Mates put up a fierce fight against the tournament favourites WR Chess. WR’s top player Alireza Firouzja found himself with seconds on the clock in a very sharp position against Gawain Jones, but still managed to win. Hikaru Nakamura defeated England’s Michael Adams after playing better in time trouble. WR’s team owner and player on the non-professional board, Wadim Rosenstein – lost on the last board, but his team still won: 3.5:2.5, securing two matchpoints. With this victory, WR tied with MGD1 for first place.

KazChess dropped a win against Rishon LeZion Chess Club. The team from Kazakhstan were in the narrow lead as the last game of the match was played between former world champion candidate Boris Gelfand and world-class player Richard Rapport. Gelfand was pushing to swing the result in his team’s favour and, eventually, under time pressure, Rapport made a slip and lost.

Hexamind Chess Team drew with the squad of Uzbekistan, with Levon Aronian losing to Uzbek superstar Nodirbek Abdusattorov.

In other notable results from the round, Vincent Keymer lost to Alan Pichot despite playing with the white pieces. Nihal Sarin lost to the rising Argentinian prodigy Faustino Oro in a tense game. The 2702-rated super-GM Alexei Shirov lost as white to more than 200 points lower-rated Ameet K Ghasi.

Round six started with a minute of silence for the tragedy in India which happened on Thursday morning, after a London-bound Air India plane carrying 242 people crashed shortly after take-off in Ahmedabad, Western India.

After a draw with Freedom, Team MGD1 was playing WR Chess. The Indian team was pressed hard by WR as they created promising positions on most of the boards. However, as the round progressed, WR got only four draws and MGD1 scored a victory on board three, where David Anton outplayed Duda.

The last game of the round to finish was between WR’s Wadim Rosenstein and Atharvaa P Tayade of MGD1. Rosenstein found himself in a difficult position, but there was also a complaint from the opposing team relating to touch and play. The game ended with Rosenstein losing, securing a 4:2 victory for MGD1.

The round’s biggest upset came as Germany and Friends stunned Freedom, 3.5:2.5. Germany’s top player Vincent Keymer led his black pieces to victory against Freedom’s Rauf Mamedov on board one.

After starting the day with a loss, Malcolm’s Mates came back with a crushing 5.5:0.5 victory over Team Hungary.

One of the most exciting games of the day was played in the match between Hexamind and the Turkish Airlines Sports Club. On board one, 11-year-old Argentine prodigy Faustino Oro put up stiff resistance against the experienced heavyweight Levon Aronian. In a sharp endgame, Aronian (playing as Black) emerged with an extra pawn.

Under extreme time pressure, both played very precise moves, but Oro ultimately blundered. The final moves of the game saw Oro playing with a queen and a knight against two queens, with no pawns on the board. Despite the pressure, Aronian kept his nerves and scored a victory. Hexamind won the match 4:2.

In round seven, MGD1 continued their strong form in round seven, defeating Germany and Friends 3.5:2.5, though it was not without its challenges. Their top board, Arjun Erigaisi, lost to Vincent Keymer after blundering in an even endgame. On board three, Rasmus Svane also scored for Germany and Friends against David Anton. However, MGD1’s Pentala Harikrishna was confident against Matthias Bluebaum on board two. Again, the lower boards proved decisive for MGD1, as Leon Luke Mendonca and Atharvaa P Tayade secured victories.

The story was completely different for WR who, after a stumble against MGD1 in round six, lost again – this time to Hexamind. WR’s Alireza Firouzja was the only player to score a victory for his team, defeating Levon Aronian. However, Vachier-Lagrave, Wesley So and Rosenstein all lost. Coupled with two more draws, the final score presented a crushing defeat.

On table three, Malcolm’s Mates held Uzbekistan to a 3:3 draw, allowing the British team to remain close to the top of the standings.

After losing in round six, Freedom rebounded with a dominant 4.5:1.5 victory over Hetman GKS Katowice, led by David Navara (who defeated Anand on the top board).

Round eight delivered the day’s biggest twist. Hexamind defeated MGD1 4:2 to draw level at the top.

Hexamind’s Anish Giri had a quick draw with David Anton and MGD1’s Atharvaa P Tayade continued their perfect performance, scoring their eighth victory. However, things then started to change for the Indian team: MGD1 lost on board two, where Leinier Dominguez Perez defeated Pentala Harikrishna. As Vidit drew with Pranav, Hexamind’s Divya Deshmukh defeated Stavroula Tsolakidou, ending her solid run of six draws. Finally, on board one Hexamind’s Volodar Murzin, with less than 10 seconds on the clock, refused a draw against Arjun Erigaisi and emerged victorious, finishing the match 4:2 in Hexamind’s favour, putting them in shared first place.

Freedom finished the day strong, with a 5:1 victory over KazChess. The only point scored for KazChess was by Rapport who defeated Rauf Mamedov on board one. WR made a comeback after two losses, defeating Barys.kz with 4.5:1.5. Still, WR’s 2718-rated Jan-Krzysztof Duda lost as White to 2324-rated IM Edgar Mamedov.

One of the last games to finish was between seasoned heavyweight Alexei Shirov and Uzbekistan’s prodigy Nodirbek Abdusattorov. The two drew following a marathon 112-move game which culminated in an endgame where Abdusattorov had a knight and a queen against Shirov’s queen and two pawns.

The final four rounds of the rapid take place on Friday, 13th June. The games start at 2 PM London time.

Written by Milan Dinic

Photos: Rafal Oleksiewicz

Official website: worldrapidblitzteams2025.fide.com/

About the event:

The third edition of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships is taking place in London, United Kingdom, between June 10 and 16, 2025.

The total prize fund is €500,000 (£421,000), €310,000 will go to the Rapid tournament, €190,000 is earmarked for the Blitz.