The FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Chess Championship returns to Doha with unmatched excitement, pitting world champions against elite grandmasters and up-and-coming prodigies in one of the most highly anticipated events of the year.
From Dec. 25 to 30, the global chess community will be treated to an extravaganza of stars vying for more than €1,000,000 in prize money.
Doha to Host Global Chess Superstars
Leading a list of more than 360 confirmed participants in this championship are current World Champion Gukesh D and former world number one Magnus Carlsen. As many as 233 contenders faced off in the Blitz Open, while 230 competed in the Rapid. This is exactly what fans are excited about: the depth and competitive fire.
Carlsen shared gold in Blitz and came extremely close to the Rapid crown in the previous edition; this year, he is back with renewed vigor. Now a father and fresh from a short competitive break, he will step back into the arena with the intent to dethrone 2024 World Rapid Champion Volodar Murzin, who has been performing fantastically throughout the season.
Another point of curiosity is the presence of World Champion Gukesh D. His incredible performance in Zagreb back in June made him one of the most favorite players for Rapid. In this showdown, we will see if Carlsen will slam the table again once he faces the Indian prodigy in the tournament.
Elite Grandmasters and Next-Gen Prodigies Join the Pack
The tournament boasts an impressive mix of legends, veterans, and rising stars. Some elite participants have been confirmed so far, according to Chess.com.
- Ian Nepomniachtchi
- Fabiano Caruana
- Anish Giri
- Wesley So
- Levon Aronian
They will be challenged by a powerful wave of young superstars:
- Vincent Keymer
- Arjun Erigaisi
- Nodirbek Abdusattorov
- Praggnanandhaa R
- Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus
- Ediz Gürel
They will also be joined by some returning chess legends: Alexander Grischuk and Vasyl Ivanchuk; the latter famously took the Rapid title in Doha back in 2016.
In case you're wondering why Hikaru Nakamura is not participating, the answer is very simple: he and his wife are expecting their first child next month.
Star-studded Lineup For Women's Rapid and Blitz
Competition in the women's division looks equally fierce. Women's World Champion Ju Wenjun headlines a full field of 130 players, including:
- Zhu Jiner
- Lei Tingjie
- Aleksandra Goryachkina
- Humpy Koneru
The former double-champion, Anna Muzychuk, will also take part, along with her sister Mariya Muzychuk.
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