WR Chess claim FIDE World Blitz Team Championship title after controversial replay of lost quarter-final match
There was some controversy in the way WR Chess had claimed the title. In the quarter-finals, WR Chess had been handed a 2-4 defeat by Germany and Friends in the first match. WR's top stars like Ian Nepomniachtchi, Nakamura and Firouzja lost their games. But WR then lodged an appeal claiming that they were not informed by the organisers of the exact time when the round was going to start. The team claimed that this made them reach the playing venue two minutes late for the blitz game. After this complaint, the match was replayed, with some reluctantance from Germany and Friends. WR Chess won the replayed match 4.5:1.5 and then claimed a 4:2 victory with colours reversed to enter the semi-finals.
India-based Team MGD1 had claimed the FIDE World Rapid Team Championship title earlier in London after starting the event as the sixth seeds. MGD1 had racked up 10 wins from 12 rounds played over three days to be crowned champions following an intense battle for supremacy with Team Hexamind.
From 53 teams that started the FIDE World Blitz Team Championship on Saturday, 16 made it to the knockout stage (where teams played a round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and the final). In each knockout pairing, teams played at least two blitz matches, where colours were reversed after the first game. If the score was level after two matches, additional games were played until a winner emerged.
Third place in the FIDE World Blitz Team Championship went to the Hexamind Chess Club, who defeated the Uzbekistan team in both matches with 3.5:2.5. The winners of this year's rapid tournament, MGD1, defeated Freedom in the duel for fifth place.
In the round of 16 stage, the WR Chess Team had claimed wins in both matches, as had Freedom and MGD1 Team. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan had one victory and one draw.
(With inputs from FIDE)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
21 minutes ago
- NDTV
Adani International School Supports ISSO To Redefine Sporting Excellence In India
Adani International School has taken a major step to enhance the nation's sports education framework by entering into a collaboration with the International Schools Sports Organisation (ISSO). Namrata Adani, promoter of Adani International School, is now part of the advisory board of ISSO, India's only dedicated sports body for international curriculum schools affiliated with globally recognised boards such as the International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge, Edexcel, and the US-based National School Boards Association (NSBA). Through this collaboration, Adani International School will support ISSO — founded in 2017 — in scaling sporting infrastructure, enhancing athlete training, and promoting participation in global events. "We are at an inflection point in India's educational and sporting landscape," said Mrs. Namrata Adani of the Adani Group in a statement. "Through this collaboration, we aim to create inclusive, future-ready institutions where students are empowered to pursue excellence both in the classroom and on the sports field. It is an honour to support ISSO in establishing a structured, globally benchmarked sports culture for international schools in India." Aakanksha Thapak, director of ISSO, is optimistic that the collaboration with Adani International School will unlock greater possibilities. "We are delighted to welcome Mrs. Namrata Adani and the Adani Group as part of our shared vision for youth empowerment through sports. Over the years, ISSO has built a structured pathway for international school students to grow through competitive sport — from grassroots to national and international levels. With the leadership and forward-thinking vision of Mrs. Adani, this collaboration is set to further strengthen the ecosystem we've created. Together, we look forward to unlocking greater sporting possibilities and inspiring thousands of young athletes across international schools," she said.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Sandhu dominates round three with a phenomenal 62, extends lead to three shots
Agency: PTI Mysuru, Aug 14 (PTI) Yuvraj Sandhu dominated the proceedings on day three with a phenomenal eight-under 62 to extend his lead to three shots at the Mysuru Open, a PGTI event. A confident-looking Sandhu, the leader from round one onwards, moved his total to an imposing 22-under 188. The Chandigarh-based Sandhu (61-65-62), the current PGTI Order of Merit leader, is now staring at his third PGTI title of the season. Jamal Hossain (62-65-64) of Bangladesh posted a 64 despite missing some crucial putts to continue in second place for the third straight day as his total read 19-under 191. Delhi golfer Arjun Prasad also carded a 64 to move into sole third place at a total of 18-under 192 on another overcast day. Chandigarh's Karandeep Kochhar matched Sandhu's first round tournament low of 61 to zoom 11 spots to tied fourth place at 17-under 193. Kochhar's round featured an eagle and seven birdies. Italy's Michele Ortolani (63), who fired two eagles on Thursday, also closed the day in joint fourth position. P Prabhu and Dhruv Bopanna, the two Mysuru-based professionals who made the cut, were placed tied 47th at six-under 204. Yuvraj Sandhu began the day by dropping his first bogey of the week on the second. However, Yuvraj came roaring back with two birdies and two eagles on the front-nine. Sandhu landed his tee shot within two feet of the pin on the Par-4 seventh to pick up his first eagle while for his next eagle on the Par-5 ninth Yuvraj landed his approach within three feet of the flag. The 28-year-old Sandhu, an international winner, then produced five consecutive birdies from the 10th through the 14th thanks to all aspects of his game coming together. At that stage Sandhu enjoyed a commanding five-shot lead. However, he had a horrid last four holes where he made three bogeys in exchange for a birdie that reduced his lead. 'I was playing in a different mental zone today, as was evident from my scoring between the seventh and the 14th. I was really enjoying myself out there. It's the kind of zone that golfers often strive to get into," Sandhu said. 'My calm and relaxed demeanor and confidence on the course is a direct reflection of the grind that I put myself through during the off-season by pushing myself to the limit. I feel that it shows in my confidence when I turn up to play a tournament." PTI KHS KHS AT AT view comments First Published: August 14, 2025, 19:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
No Shubman Gill In Asia Cup Despite 750+ Runs In England? Report Says, "Struggle..."
Will Shubman Gill be picked for the Asia Cup? After a super India vs England Test series, where the skipper in the longest format slammed over 750 run in five matches, the general opinion is that he will be picked for the T20I side on a regular basis from now on. Gill last played in T20Is in July 2024. Since then, India have played series against England, Bangladesh and South Africa but Gill did not get a game. Though he has a century in T20Is, a report in RevSportz has claimed that Gill is 'not' a certainty for Asia Cup squad. The report also claimed that "to say that Gill will be picked and made vice captain is premature" and 'might struggle' to find a place in a 'set' team. The report's logic is that there is no question over Gill's form or class, but the T20I team is quite a set combination and giving him a place in the side will be unjust to others. According to sources close to developments, to accommodate Gill in the XI, Sanju Samson has to be pushed down the order. Apart from Samson, the other Indian opener is Abhishek Sharma is the number-one ranked T20 batter while Tilak Varma generally bats at No. 3 spot. The report added that "to include Gill could mean not doing justice to the others." The newly-appointed Test skipper, Shubman Gill, ate a massive chunk of batting record books following a 754 run outing during the tour of England, which saw him score four centuries in five matches and walk away with the 'Player of the Series' honours. Already a force to be reckoned with in ODIs, having scored 2,775 runs and 22 fifty-plus scores in 55 ODIs, there have been temptations to play him in the upcoming T20 Asia Cup, starting from September 9 onwards. India will kickstart their campaign from September 10 against the UAE. There have been media reports that Gill could make his return to the T20I team, possibly as a vice-captain. As per reports, he could be in line to receive the ODI leadership once current skipper Rohit Sharma calls it quits, as per ESPNCricinfo. The question is, does Gill fit in India's T20I plans?. His most recent T20 outing was in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, where he scored 650 runs at a strike rate of almost 156, with six fifties in 15 matches and emerged as the fourth-highest run-getter. He is also identified as one of the faces which could dominate all format cricket for India in the coming decade. But the selection process is still complex, as last time when India played a full-fledged T20I squad, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were still around in the T20 World Cup 2024, with Gill as a travelling reserve outside the main 15 players. Since then, scheduling and injuries have influenced India's selection in T20Is. After the WC, Gill led a second-string Indian side to series win in Zimbabwe, and July 2024 was the last time he played T20Is for India. He ended the year 2024 with 266 runs in eight T20Is at an average of 38.00, strike rate of 133 and two fifties from the Zimbabwe series, improving his stats overall to 578 runs in 21 matches and innings at an average of 30.42, with a strike rate of over 139, a century and three fifties following an inconsistent string of scores in the start of his T20I career. Gill was appointed as Suryakumar Yadav 's deputy for the T20I series in July, and as Test cricket took priority, Gill was not picked for T20Is, with Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma emerging as India's new top three.
