2021 World Rapid and Blitz: Carlsen, Nepo, Firoujza, and Nakamura Are Our Holiday Spice
Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Alireza Firouzja, and Hikaru Nakamura are already in Warsaw for the traditional end of year tournament, the 2021 World Rapid and Blitz. Both the Open and Women’s events start on the 25th of December, with a total prize of $1 million.
The World Rapid and Blitz Championships were initially scheduled to be held in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan. Due to COVID-19 restrictions though, FIDE announced that the events will take place in the Polish national football stadium in the capital city of Warsaw, on the same dates (December 25 – December 31, 2021).
“FIDE is sincerely grateful to Poland, a country with great chess traditions, for proposing to host the Championships despite the short notice. I am sure that it will be a wonderful event,” Arkady Dvorkovich, President of FIDE, said.
Right after the 2021 World Championship, the World Champion had his eyes on the World Rapid and Blitz Championship, and the preparation to retain his triple crown in blitz, rapid and classical chess. Chess enthusiasts on the other hand are looking forward to the Carlsen – Alireja matches, as he is the only motivation of Magnus playing another World Chess Championship!
But the 18-year-old GM and recently World No.2 is not the only “threat” to the crown. Hikaru Nakamura, the nowadays professional streamer, and speed chess king, will finally participate in a major international tournament after a couple of years.
The 2021 Challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi, and the European Blitz Championship winner Jan-Krzysztof Duda will also claim the title, with GMs Ding Liren and Wesley So being the only from the Top 10 missing the event.
Watch the 2021 World Rapid and Blitz Championship here.
