World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2025: One Million Euro on the Line

Carlsen, Nepomniachtchi, Murzin, Humpy, Ju – the champions return

Reigning champions GM Magnus Carlsen, GM Ian Nepomniachtchi, GM Volodar Murzin, GM Koneru Humpy, and GM Ju Wenjun are expected to defend their titles, with fierce competition guaranteed. The event, which has become a year-end tradition since its inception in 2012, consistently attracts the very best from the chess world, and 2025 will be no exception.

Among the many stars expected in action are the current World Classical Champion GM Dommaraju Gukesh, as well as a full roster of India’s brightest talents: GM Arjun Erigaisi, GM R Praggnanandhaa, GM Vidit Gujrathi, GM Pentala Harikrishna, GM Raunak Sadhwani, GM Nihal Sarin, GM Karthikeyan Murali, GM Karthik Venkataraman, GM Mitrabha Guha, IM Iniyan Pa, and more.

On the women’s side, GM Harika Dronavalli, WGM Vaishali R, WGM Divya Deshmukh, IM Tania Sachdev, WGM Vantika Agrawal, WGM Nandhidhaa PV, IM Padmini Rout, IM Bhakti Kulkarni, and WIM Savitha Shri B are all expected to be part of the action.

The chess world will once again be watching as titles, glory, and a share of the million-euro prize pool are up for grabs.

Blitz format overhaul: From eight to four

One of the biggest changes for 2025 comes in the Blitz Championship format. After successful testing in 2024, FIDE has confirmed a new knockout structure, bringing fresh energy and suspense to the competition. Instead of eight players advancing from the Swiss rounds to the knockout stage, only the top four finishers will now make it to the semifinals.

The Open blitz will feature 19 Swiss rounds, while the Women’s blitz will include 15 Swiss rounds, both played over two days. The semifinals and finals will follow on 30 December, creating a compact and thrilling conclusion to the tournament.

“The new format is an exciting mix of the Swiss system and knockout,” said FIDE CEO and Grandmaster Emil Sutovsky. “The increased number of rounds in the preliminary phase helps ensure the strongest players reach the final four. We've also optimized the schedule to suit global audiences.”

Sutovsky also confirmed that FIDE is investing heavily in broadcast production, promising world-class coverage for millions of viewers tuning in around the globe.

Rapid format stays the same

While blitz undergoes a transformation, the rapid format remains unchanged. The Open tournament will consist of 13 rounds, the Women’s competition 11 rounds, with a playoff in the event of a tie for first place.

“Rapid and blitz formats continue to grow in popularity,” said FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich. “With increasing strength across the field, these changes make the event more exciting while ensuring fairness and integrity.”

A proud return to Doha

For Doha, this isn’t the first time hosting chess at the highest level. The Qatari capital successfully organized the 2016 edition of the World Rapid and Blitz Championships and has since become a respected name in global chess circles.

“We are very much looking forward to welcoming the chess world to Doha,” said Mohd Al-Mudahka, President of the Qatar Chess Association. “We’ve shown our commitment through events like the Qatar Masters, and we’re proud to once again host this flagship tournament.”

Doha’s return as host underlines FIDE’s mission to globalize chess, and with a combination of tradition, innovation, and world-class competition, the 2025 World Rapid and Blitz Championships promise to be a spectacular finale to the chess year.