The 2025 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships start tomorrow in Doha, Qatar, running from December 26-30. First matches begin at 11:00 UTC. The open and women’s tournaments feature a combined €1,000,000 prize fund. The championship will feature 251 players from 52 countries.

The Rapid tournament is using a 13-round Swiss system for open and 11 for women’s, with a 15+10 time control. The blitz event has a 19-round Swiss for open and 15 for women’s, with a 3+2 time control. The top four players then advance to a knockout playoff stage. Ties for first place are broken by a two-game 3+2 blitz match, followed by an Armageddon game if needed.

This championship follows the 2024 edition held in New-York, where the Open Titles were won by Volodar Murzin (Rapid) and Magnus Carlsen with Ian Nepomniachtchi (Blitz). This tournament saw the first-ever Title split, initiated by Magnus and Ian by mutual agreement.

Credit: FIDE