FIDE Introduces New Format for 2024 World Blitz Chess Championship in New York

FIDE Shakes Up 2024 World Blitz Chess Championship with New Format

In a surprising move, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) has announced a major change to the format of the upcoming 2024 World Blitz Championship in New York. The traditional 21-round Swiss format will be replaced with a combined Swiss and knockout format, adding a new level of excitement and competitiveness to the prestigious event.

The decision to introduce a knockout phase comes on the heels of FIDE’s recent schedule changes for the World Rapid & Blitz Championships, which included a rest day and extended the event to six days. The new format for the World Blitz Chess Championship will feature a two-stage format, with the first phase following a shortened Swiss system of 13 rounds for the open section and 11 rounds for the women’s section.

FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky expressed his excitement about the new format, stating, “This is not only much more exciting but also will allow for the direct match-ups of the strongest players to decide the winners.” The top eight players from the Swiss phase will advance to a knockout bracket, where they will compete in four-game matches in the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final.

The introduction of the knockout phase aims to address the issue of short draws that have occurred in previous blitz events, as players often opted for quick draws to secure cash prizes rather than fight for medals. The new format will ensure that the strongest players have the opportunity to compete directly against each other, increasing the overall competitiveness of the championship.

While most players will be able to return home for New Year celebrations, the two finalists will have gone through a minimum of 25 blitz games, excluding possible tiebreaks. FIDE has not yet announced the full regulations for the event, but the new format is already generating buzz and anticipation among chess fans worldwide.

The 2024 World Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships are set to take place in New York’s Wall Street district from December 26 to 31, with the exact location yet to be announced. A preliminary list of participants is expected to include top players such as Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, and Anish Giri. Chess enthusiasts can look forward to an exciting and unpredictable championship with the introduction of the new Swiss and knockout format.