World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship Starts in Doha

The World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship starts in Doha, the capital of Qatar. A record number of chess players will participate in the international sporting event. Sport24.az reports that this was announced by the President of the Qatar Chess Federation, Mohammed Al-Modahka, at a briefing. 

400 male and female chess players will compete in the World Championship. Among them are Magnus Carlsen, the winner of the World Blitz Championship in New York, Dommaraju Gukesh, the World Rapid Champion and winner of the 2024 Candidates Tournament, Ian Nepomniachtchi, the 2024 World Blitz Champion, Fabiano Caruana, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, Ediz Gurel, Vasyl Ivanchuk, and female chess players like former world champion Tan Zhongyi, currently second in the rankings with 2507 points, Bibisara Assaubayeva, ranked 5th, and other famous chess players.

According to the official website of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), Azerbaijan will be represented at the World Cup by 14 chess players.

Among the men are Shahriyar Mammadyarov, Teymur Rajabov, Eltaj Safarli, Rauf Mammadov, Nijat Abasov, Mahammad Muradli and Aydin Suleymanli, and in the women's competition, Gunay Mammadzada, Gulnar Mammadova, Khanim Balajayeva, Govhar Beydullayeva, Ulviyya Fataliyeva, Zeynab and Turkan Mammadyarova sisters will test their strength.

It should be noted that the total prize fund of the tournament, which will end on December 30, is more than 1 million euros.