Day Two Highlights: Dragon Chilling Takes the Lead at the 2026 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Team Championships
Dragon Chilling Takes Command at 2026 World Rapid & Blitz Team Championships
In a thrilling display of strategy and endurance, GM Ding Liren fell to GM Richard Rapport in a grueling 177-move battle, but it was Dragon Chilling that emerged as the standout team on Day Two of the 2026 World Rapid & Blitz Team Championships. With this victory, Dragon Chilling seized the sole lead in the tournament, remaining unbeaten and showcasing their prowess in the fast-paced competition.
The championship, taking place in Hong Kong from June 17-21, has seen intense competition among nearly 50 teams, each featuring a mix of seasoned players and newcomers. Dragon Chilling now holds a one-point advantage over their closest rivals, Team MGD1, who climbed to second place with three wins, including a stunning performance by GM Arjun Erigaisi, who outplayed the legendary GM Magnus Carlsen on the top board.
Carlsen’s struggles continued as he faced another defeat, this time at the hands of GM Shant Sargsyan. The former world champion’s unexpected losses contributed to WR Chess’s drop to 11th place, a surprising turn of events for the top-seeded team. In a further twist, WR Chess suffered another setback when they sat out the final round, allowing the underdog team Barys to secure a victory and rise to third place, thanks to GM Peter Svidler’s impressive win over GM Fabiano Caruana.
As the tournament progresses, the standings reflect the fierce competition, with Dragon Chilling leading the pack with 14 points, followed closely by Team MGD1 with 13 points. Barys, with their recent surge, now sits in third with 12 points.
FIDE World Rapid Team Championship Standings After Day 2 (Top 3)
- Dragon Chilling – 14 points
- Team MGD1 – 13 points
- Barys – 12 points
The excitement continues as Day Three kicks off on Friday, June 19, at 2 a.m. ET / 08:00 CEST / 11:30 a.m. IST. Fans can follow the action live on the FIDE YouTube channel or through the official events page.
As the tournament unfolds, all eyes will be on whether Dragon Chilling can maintain their lead or if Team MGD1 and Barys will mount a challenge in the coming rounds. Stay tuned for more updates and analysis, including our Game of the Day featuring Erigaisi’s remarkable victory over Carlsen, analyzed by GM Rafael Leitao.
For full games and standings, visit the official event page.