Carlsen and Kosteniuk start the World Rapid 2022 with the black pieces
The World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2022 kicked off today in Almaty, Kazakhstan with the opening ceremony taking place on Christmas day at the Baluan Sholak Sports Palace.
The opening ceremony of the World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2022 was filled with music, kids performances, culture, and speeches. Top four seeds in each category – Carlsen, Nakamura, Lagno and Kosteniuk for the Rapid and Blitz Championships in Open and Women categories – attended the ceremony, chose color, and spent time with the audience. According to Sagar Shah, the 15 minutes that Magnus spent with the crowd were truly heart-warming.
The players went on the stage with Magnus wearing the chapan or shapan, a long, loose, not gender-specific robe, and Hikaru putting on the Tymaq, a traditional Kazakh fur hat. Two Kazakh style vessels containing one white king and one black king in each one were brought towards Magnus, who chose the black pieces for Game 1 of the Rapid against GM Ter-Sahakyan Samvel (2531). Kosteniuk also chose the black piece for the Women category against WGM Kovanova Baira (2241)
Among others, FIDE President Arkadij Dvorkovich made a speech saying that the Football world cup just ended and it is now time for the chess extravaganza of World Rapid and Blitz to begin!
Watch the World Rapid Championship 2022 Open here
Watch the World Rapid Championship 2022 Women here
