Dragon Chilling Triumphs in Thrilling Finale of the 2026 World Rapid Team Championship
Dragon Chilling Triumphs in Thrilling Finale at 2026 World Rapid Team Championship
Hong Kong — In a nail-biting conclusion to the 2026 FIDE World Rapid Team Championship, GM Ding Liren led his team, Dragon Chilling, to victory in the final round, clinching the championship on tiebreaks. The team finished with an impressive 18 points, edging out silver medalists Team MGD1, captained by GM Arjun Erigaisi, and bronze medalists Hexamind Chess Team, featuring GM Alireza Firouzja.
The day began with Dragon Chilling taking a commanding three-point lead after their first match. However, the momentum shifted dramatically as they lost their next two games. Entering the final round, Mr. Birdie and friends, led by GM Vladislav Artemiev, found themselves in the lead but ultimately fell short, missing the podium by the narrowest of margins.
In a surprising turn of events, pre-tournament favorites WR Chess, featuring the legendary GM Magnus Carlsen, finished in a disappointing 17th place. Carlsen faced a shocking defeat against GM Javokhir Sindarov, sacrificing his queen in a critical moment, and suffered another loss to GM Aydin Suleymanli. This marked the first time since he was 12 that Carlsen experienced four consecutive losses in tournament play.
The championship was decided by the slimmest of margins, with all top three teams finishing on 18 points. The Olympiad Sonneborn-Berger tiebreak system ultimately determined the standings, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats until the final games concluded.
Final Standings
- Dragon Chilling – 18 points (Tiebreak: 647.5)
- Team MGD1 – 18 points (Tiebreak: 632)
- Hexamind Chess Team – 18 points (Tiebreak: 611.5)
The 2026 FIDE World Blitz Team Championship is set to commence on Saturday, June 20, at 2 a.m. ET / 08:00 CEST / 11:30 a.m. IST, promising more thrilling chess action.
For those eager to catch the excitement, the championship can be followed on the FIDE Events page and on the FIDE YouTube channel.
Stay tuned for full coverage of the day’s action and highlights from the tournament!