Warsaw hosts world rapid and blitz chess championships

Several hundred chess players from various countries have flocked to Warsaw to take part in the 2021 World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships, which began in the Polish capital on Sunday.

Polish chess player Jan-Krzysztof Duda.

Photo: PAP/Leszek Szymański

International competitors include reigning world champion Carlsen Magnus of Norway and home favourite Jan-Krzysztof Duda.

Top standings at the FIDE World Rapid Championship after the first day of play:
1-3. Duda, Carlsen, Jobava - 4½
4-16. Nepomniachtchi, Abdusattorov, Grischuk, Gareyev, Anton, Niemann, Gelfand, Giri, Korobov, Firouzja, Cheparinov, Fedoseev, Petrosian - 4#rapidblitz pic.twitter.com/gJDNPTX6QA

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) December 26, 2021

Magnus Carlsen. Photo: PAP/Leszek Szymański

The event at Warsaw's National Stadium runs until Thursday.

FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships is a year-end treat that never fails to bring a lot of emotions. #rapidblitz https://t.co/F1svR1OUMK pic.twitter.com/nVSMuvtXwE

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) December 26, 2021

Coronavirus restrictions foiled the world chess body FIDE's original plan to hold the championships in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said: "The game of chess is an important part of the history of Poland. I am very glad to know that our country will host the best grandmasters for the World Blitz and Rapid Chess Championships."

"The game of chess is an important part of the history of Poland. I am very glad to know that our country will host the best grandmasters for the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships," said Mateusz Morawiecki @MorawieckiM, Prime Minister of Poland.

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) December 10, 2021

The 2021 World Rapid and Blitz Championships have a total prize fund of USD 1 million, with a top prize of USD 60,000 each going to the rapid and blitz open champions and USD 40,000 each to the women's champions.

Earlier this month, more than 550 chess players from 21 countries took part in the 2021 European Blitz and Rapid Chess Championships, which were held in the southern Polish city of Katowice.

(gs)

Source: europechess.org