Doha’s FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship 2025 proved to be a mouth-watering display of speed, accuracy, and resilience. With over €1,000,000 in prizes in the world’s crop visiting Qatar University’s Sports and Events Complex, there had been unforgettable battles in both the Open and Women’s sections.
Format and Field
Rapid chess is played at 15 minutes per player, with a 10-second increment per move. This is a format that rewards creativity and punishes mistakes brutally.
The Open section had luminaries like Carlsen, Artemiev, Erigaisi, Niemann, and Dominguez, among other established and rising stars, including 14-year-old Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus. Heavyweights like Ian Nepomniachtchi and Levon Aronian fared variably, whereas Nodirbek Abdusattorov showcased his sharp playing skills.
Magnus Carlsen is Unstoppable: Sixth Rapid Crown
Magnus Carlsen once again showed why he is still the benchmark in rapid chess. He won his sixth World Rapid title by recording a score of 10.5/13 and beating the chasing pack by a full point. Carlsen’s path to victory was not entirely smooth. On day two, he faltered with a draw against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and a loss to Vladislav Artemiev.
He then recovered with three backto- back wins against Sarana, Niemann, and Erdogmus. In the last round, he drew with Anish Giri, ice-cold sealing the championship.
Final – Magnus vs Anish Giri:
Magnus Remarks:
“I play for first place when I’m appearing here, while most other players are thinking about getting a good prize and maybe a medal. That gives me a huge psychological advantage.”
Aleksandra Goryachkina: First Rapid Title
The action in the Women’s section was just as heated. Going into the last round, Aleksandra Goryachkina, Zhu Jiner, and Humpy Koneru shared the top spot with 8/10. Koneru had a golden chance to clinch sole first place but misplayed a winning endgame against compatriot Savitha, which allowed her opponent to get away with a draw.
That left Goryachkina and Zhu to contest the playoff. Under rules only the top two players on tiebreaks advanced, leaving out Koneru.
Women’s Final Game
The playoff was made up of two blitz games. Goryachkina struck right away in the first, outplaying Zhu in a tense middlegame and converting her advantage with clinical precision. In the second game, she held firm, steering the position into a safe draw. With a win and a draw, she clinched her first World Rapid crown.
This victory is a landmark for Goryachkina, who previously challenged for the classical World Championship in 2020. Her ability to stay calm under tension and to change according to faster time controls marks her growing versatility.
Zhu Jiner of China, who had led much of the tournament, took the silver. The defending champion, Koneru of India, had to settle for the bronze medal.
Closing Thoughts
As for Doha 2025, it will be remembered for Carlsen’s resilience, the breakthrough of Goryachkina, and a number of emergent young stars. Until now, the World Rapid Championship had some prestige, but this is one of the most exciting battles seen, setting a new storyline.
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