2024 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships to be Held in New York: All You Need to Know

The chess world is abuzz with excitement as the 2024 edition of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships is set to take place at Wall Street, New York, from December 26 to 31. With Indian chess talent reaching new heights following D Gukesh’s recent win in the World Chess Championship, all eyes will be on India’s top players as they compete against the best in the world.

Defending champion Magnus Carlsen will be looking to retain his title, which he claimed in Samarkand in 2023. The format for the championships will see players competing in a Swiss system, with the World Rapid Championship consisting of 13 rounds in the Open Rapid format and 11 rounds in the Women’s Rapid format. The player with the most points at the end will be crowned the World Rapid Champion.

In the World Blitz Championship, players will also follow the Swiss system initially, with 13 rounds for Open Blitz and 11 rounds for Women’s Blitz. The top eight players will then progress to Stage 2, a knockout format, to determine the ultimate winner.

Several Indian chess stars will be in action in both tournaments, including Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggananandhaa, Humpy Koneru, and Harika Dronavalli. The schedule for the championships is packed with rounds taking place late into the night and early morning, with time controls set at 15 minutes for the World Rapid Championship and 3 minutes for the World Blitz Championship.

The total prize money for the tournaments is substantial, with $1,000,000 up for grabs in the Open tournaments and $428,500 in the women’s tournaments. The first-place winners will receive $90,000 and $60,000, respectively.

As the chess world gears up for this prestigious event, fans can expect thrilling matches, intense competition, and the crowning of new champions. Stay tuned for all the action from the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships in New York!