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The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
2025 FIDE Rapid and Blitz Explained: Schedule, Format Changes, Prize Split
When and where will the 2025 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships take place? The 2025 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships are scheduled to take place in Doha, Qatar from December 26 to December 31. What is the total prize fund for the 2025 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships? The total prize fund for the 2025 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships is one million euros, which is approximately 1.125 million USD. How is the prize fund distributed between the Open and Women's sections? The Open section receives €700,000, which is evenly divided between the Rapid and Blitz tournaments (€350,000 for each). The Women's section receives €300,000, also split equally between the Rapid and Blitz tournaments (€150,000 for each). What significant format changes have been introduced for the 2025 Blitz Championships? For the 2025 Blitz Championships, FIDE has introduced a more streamlined knockout stage. In both the Open and Women's sections, only the top four players from the initial Swiss stage will advance directly to the knockout semifinals. Previously, eight players qualified for the knockout phase. How does the new Blitz format aim to enhance the event? According to FIDE officials, the new format is an 'exciting mix of the Swiss system and knockout.' The increased number of rounds in the qualifying Swiss stage is intended to ensure that the strongest players progress to the knockout phase. Additionally, the scheduling of the final match-up is designed to suit audiences across major chess hubs. What are the regulations and schedule for the 2025 Blitz Championships? In the Blitz Championships, the Open section will have 19 Swiss rounds, while the Women's section will have 15 Swiss rounds. These will be followed by semifinals and finals on December 30. Detailed regulations for the Open and Women's events are available on the FIDE website. Has the format for the World Rapid Championships also changed for 2025? No, the format for the World Rapid Championships remains unchanged for 2025. The Open competition will consist of 13 rounds, and the Women's competition will have 11 rounds. A playoff will be conducted in case of a tie for first place. Related Topics World Rapid and Blitz Championship
Hindustan Times
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Shots fired at Magnus Carlsen as FIDE CEO serves jeans controversy reminder with brutal dig: ‘Does it look appropriate?'
Magnus Carlsen's jeans controversy during the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in New York last year was a sensational affair. The World No. 1 played the initial rounds of the Rapid tournament wearing jeans, which are prohibited under tournament regulations. The Norwegian was given the opportunity to immediately change his attire, but he disagreed with the chief arbiter. In response, he was disqualified for the future pairings of the day. Carlsen was allowed to return the next day, but instead he withdrew from the tournament. At the last minute, FIDE managed to get him for the Blitz tournament, where he once again courted controversy in the final as he shared the title with Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi. Fast forward to April 2025, FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky reminded chess fans that he hasn't forgotten about the jeans controversy, and took another dig at Carlsen. Carlsen was recently in action at the Grenke Chess Freestyle Open 2025, where he came out on top with a perfect 9/9 score. Posting a photo of the Grenke prize ceremony, Sutovsky questioned the dress code of the top GMs on the stage, along with Jan Henric Buettner. He wrote, 'Now a serious question - as we get back to review the dress code for FIDE events this year. 'Do you, as a spectator, feel it really does not matter? 'I think Grenke was a great event with hundreds of amateurs - but I am talking specifically about the top players. The photo is from the prize giving ceremony. Does it look appropriate? And if you were the host/organizer, would you have welcomed similar attire? 'Apart of spectators we will obviously inquire the opinion of hosting country, sponsors, broadcasters. And then we try to see what players think about it. But first thing first. He concluded, 'What's your take?' Recently, Carlsen publicly stated that his ugly war with FIDE was over, but he would prefer maintaining distance from the international body. Speaking to Reuters, he said, 'I'm not really very interested in what FIDE are doing. I'm sort of trying to do my things, being with the Esports World Cup, Freestyle.' 'FIDE's crown jewel is the classical world championship, right? That's what gives FIDE legacy and legitimacy, and none of us are going after that,' he added.
