Magnus Carlsen Wins Blitz Championship at FIDE Championships in Astana
The FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships 2024 recently concluded in Astana, with the WR Chess Team, led by Magnus Carlsen, emerging victorious in the Blitz category on Aug. 5.
This year’s event was special as it marked the debut of The World Blitz Team Championship alongside the World Rapid. The one-day event featured 40 teams competing for the title and a prize fund of 100,000 euros. The WR Chess Team defeated the MGD1 team to claim the top spot.
The Blitz Championship consisted of a pool stage followed by a knockout stage, with a time control of three minutes plus a two-second increment per move. In the end, 16 out of 40 teams advanced to the playoffs.
The WR Chess Team fielded a strong lineup of multiple world champions and top-ranked players, including Magnus Carlsen, Hou Yifan, and others. Carlsen expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, highlighting the tough competition they faced.
Despite finishing fifth in the Rapid event, the Indian squad of MGD1 excelled in the Blitz competition, reaching the finals and putting up a good fight against the WR Chess Team.
Individual players were also acknowledged for their outstanding performance in the Rapid event, with Carlsen taking the gold for best performance on the first board.
The Kazakhstan Chess Federation, in collaboration with FIDE, hosted the championships from Aug. 1 to 5 in Astana. The team tournament took place at the Astana Convention Center, with the opening ceremony combining the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Championships with the torch-lighting ceremony of the 45th Chess Olympiad, dedicated to FIDE’s 100th anniversary.
Overall, the championships were a showcase of top-tier chess talent and provided an exciting platform for players to compete at a high level.
