Final preparations for FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships announced

Doha, Qatar: The Local Organizing Committee of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships today announced the final organizational preparation...

Doha, Qatar: The Local Organizing Committee of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships today announced the final organizational preparations ahead of the tournament's kickoff, which will be hosted by Qatar University at the Sports and Events Complex from December 25 to 31.

Speaking at a press conference, President of the Qatar Chess Federation and Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Mohammed Al Mudahka confirmed that all preparations for the global event have been completed. He stated that the Open World Blitz Championship will feature 233 players, while the World Rapid Championship will see the participation of 230 players.

Al Mudahka highlighted the participation of Norwegian world champion Magnus Carlsen, who won the gold medal in the previous World Blitz Championship held in New York, noting that his presence adds significant competitive and technical value to the tournament.

He added that a number of the world's leading chess stars have confirmed their participation, including Indian World Rapid Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, reigning 2024 World Blitz Champion Ian Nepomniachtchi, as well as Fabiano Caruana, Anish Giri, Wesley So, Levon Aronian, Vincent Keymer, Arjun Erigaisi, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, R Praggnanandhaa, Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, Ediz Gurel, in addition to Russian grandmaster Alexander Grischuk and Ukrainian grandmaster Vasyl Ivanchuk, the winner of World Rapid Chess title in Doha 2016.

The President of the Qatar Chess Federation noted that Doha has become the only city to host the World Rapid and Blitz Championships twice, following the first edition in 2016. He described this as a major achievement that reflects Qatar's growing stature on the global chess map, particularly with the tournament's return to Doha after nine years.