World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2024: Players, Format, and Event Details

The World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2024 are set to kick off from 26th to 31st December 2024, with top chess players from around the world competing for the prestigious titles. Reigning champions Magnus Carlsen, Anastasia Bodnaruk, and Valentina Gunina are all geared up to defend their titles, while stars like Hikaru Nakamura and Alireza Firouzja are making a comeback after skipping last year’s event.

A total of 17 Indian players will be participating in the championships, including Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, Koneru Humpy, and Harika Dronavalli. The field is stacked with top players like Fabiano Caruana, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and Wenjun Ju, making for an exciting and competitive tournament.

The format for the Rapid event will feature 13 rounds for the Open section and 11 rounds for the Women’s section, with a time control of 15 minutes + 10 seconds increment. The Blitz event will see a knockout format in Stage 2, with the top eight players from each section advancing to the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals.

In addition to the chess action, a special conference called “The Wall Street Gambit” will be held on December 29, exploring the connections between chess and finance. Chess legends Magnus Carlsen and Vishwanathan Anand will join financial experts for keynote speeches and discussions on the intersection of chess, AI, and economics.

Tickets for the event are now on sale, with various options available for spectators to choose from. Fans can also watch the World Rapid Open and Women 2024 live, with commentary provided by GM Maurice Ashley and GM Evgenij Miroshnichenko.

With a star-studded lineup and exciting format, the World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2024 promise to be a thrilling event for chess enthusiasts and players alike. Stay tuned for all the action and updates from the tournament!