The chess world witnessed another spectacular display of talent at the 2025 FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship held in Doha, Qatar, from December 26-28. The tournament, hosted at the Sports and Events Complex at Qatar University, brought together the finest chess minds from around the globe for an exciting three-day battle of speed and skill.
Carlsen Claims His Sixth Crown
Magnus Carlsen, the Norwegian chess legend, once again proved why he is considered one of the greatest players of all time. He dominated the Open section with an impressive score of 10.5 out of 13 points, finishing a full point ahead of his closest competitors. This victory marks his sixth World Rapid Championship title, adding to his wins in 2014, 2015, 2019, 2022, and 2023.
What made this victory even more special was Carlsen’s exceptional performance. He achieved his highest-ever score in this tournament format, winning nine games, drawing three, and losing just one. His only defeat came in round seven against Russian grandmaster Vladislav Artemiev, but Carlsen bounced back brilliantly. On the final day, he went on an incredible winning streak, defeating Alexey Sarana, Hans Niemann, and Erdogmus Su before securing a comfortable draw with Anish Giri in the last round.
“The serious advantage that I have is that I play for first place when I’m appearing here, while most other players are thinking about getting a good prize,” Carlsen explained after his victory. This mindset clearly worked in his favor, bringing his total world championship titles to an astounding 19 across all time controls – five in classical chess, six in rapid, and eight in blitz.
A Tight Race for the Podium
While Carlsen enjoyed a comfortable victory, the battle for second and third place was incredibly close. Four players finished tied on 9.5 points: Vladislav Artemiev, Arjun Erigaisi, Hans Niemann, and Leinier Dominguez Perez. Through tiebreak calculations using the Buchholz system, Artemiev claimed silver and Indian sensation Arjun Erigaisi took bronze. Hans Niemann narrowly missed out on a medal by just 0.5 Buchholz points, which must have been heartbreaking for the young American player.
Goryachkina’s Dramatic Triumph
The Women’s Rapid Championship delivered even more drama and excitement. Three players entered the final round tied at 8 points: China’s Zhu Jiner, Russian player Aleksandra Goryachkina (playing under the FIDE flag), and India’s defending champion Humpy Koneru.
In the crucial final round, both Zhu and Goryachkina played it safe and drew their games, finishing with 8.5 points each. Meanwhile, Koneru had a golden opportunity to claim the title outright with a completely winning endgame against compatriot Savitha Shri. However, chess at rapid time controls can be unforgiving, and Koneru made a critical error in time trouble, allowing Savitha to escape with a draw.
This meant Goryachkina and Zhu had to face each other in a thrilling blitz playoff to determine the champion. The playoff format used a time control of 3 minutes plus 2 seconds increment per move. Goryachkina held her nerve and defeated Zhu by a score of 1.5-0.5, claiming her first World Rapid Championship title.
“It’s very cool!” exclaimed an ecstatic Goryachkina after her victory. Her performance was nothing short of remarkable – she went undefeated through all 11 rounds of the main tournament. This triumph represents her best result in rapid chess, surpassing her bronze medal from Saint Petersburg in 2018. She took home the winner’s prize of €40,000.
Indian Excellence
India had much to celebrate at this championship. Besides Koneru’s third-place finish, young IM Savitha Shri showed tremendous fighting spirit throughout the tournament, finishing fourth with 8 points. She demonstrated excellent form by defeating strong opponents and holding her own against the world’s elite women players.
Looking Ahead
With the Rapid Championship concluded, players barely had time to catch their breath before the World Blitz Championships began on December 29. The tournament in Doha featured a massive prize fund of over €1,000,000, making it one of the most lucrative chess events of the year.
The 2025 FIDE Rapid Championship once again showcased why rapid chess has become so popular. It combines the strategic depth of classical chess with the excitement and time pressure of faster formats, creating a perfect spectacle for fans worldwide. Both Carlsen and Goryachkina’s victories reminded us that in chess, excellence comes from a combination of preparation, skill, and nerves of steel.
