Pragnananda, Vidit, Nihal, Gokesh, Arjun take on Carlsen and the best in the world at World Rapid and Blitz 2023 » Today Latest Stories
“…Rapid and Blitz are very separate events, meaning Rapid has much fewer rounds and so the results at the top will be more random. Personally, I’m very much in favor of the Blitz event. The Speed Championship is ‘more open.’ I would say there are a lot of players who have the potential to win including Noderbek Abdulsarov, but there is not one name that stands out.” – Magnus Carlsen on the contenders for World Rapid and Blitz 2023. When Carlsen himself says he is the favorite in the Blitz But not at Rapid, that should speak volumes about the level of the playing field.
Tingjie Lie (CHN), Wenjun Ju (CHN) and Magnus Carlsen (NOR) after drawing their colors for World Rapid and Blitz 2023 with Chief Judge – IA Ivan Syrovy (SVK) | Photography: Shahid Ahmed
World Rapid and Blitz 2023 Opening Ceremony and Lottery | Video: Indian Chess Rule
Four-time Women’s World Champion – GM Wenjun Ju (CHN) took the white pieces in Women Rapid | Photo: FIDE/Anastasia Korolkova
Magnus Carlsen got the white pieces in the Blitz Open as well | Photo: FIDE/Anastasia Korolkova
Magnus Carlsen talks about getting white pieces in the first game in both fast and attacking play
GM Tingjie Lei (CHN) will receive the black pieces in the first round of Women Blitz | Photo: FIDE/Anastasia Korolkova
FIDE World Rapid and Blitz 2023 Draw | Video: Indian Chess Rule
The opening ceremony witnessed an exciting dance performance with dancers dressed in black and white | Photo: FIDE/Anastasia Korolkova
Vishy Anand, one of the official commentators, was present at the opening ceremony Photo: FIDE/Anastasia Korolkova
Sarayu Velpula and FM Varshini M will make their debut at World Rapid and Blitz Women 2023 | Photo: FIDE/Anastasia Korolkova
World Rapid Women 2022 Bronze Medalist – WGM Savitha Shri B alongside returning Muzychuk sisters – Anna and Maria who skipped the last edition in 2022 | Photo: FIDE/Anastasia Korolkova
Magnus Carlsen with the organizer, Hosan Tordaliev, tournament director, Alisher Sadulayev, President of the Uzbek Chess Federation, and Arkady Dvorkovich, President of the FIDE | Photo: FIDE/Anastasia Korolkova
Opening press conference Photography: Shahid Ahmed
Milan Dinic, director of the press conference alongside Magnus Carlsen | Photography: Shahid Ahmed
Winning is my style! Magnus Carlsen at the opening press conference of World Rapid & Blitz 2023 | Video: Indian Chess Rule
Rapid World Champion 2021 – GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan) on the microphone next to Alisher Sadulayev, President of the Uzbek Chess Federation | Photography: Shahid Ahmed
The trip which had more than a dozen Indian players
On December 25, an Indigo flight flew several Indian players including three members of the ChessBase India team to Tashkent. Here are the players who were present in it – GMR Prajanananda, GM Nihal Sareen, GM D Gokesh, GM Arjun Erejesi, GM Sandeepan Chanda, GMSL Narayanan, GM P Adhiban, GM Pranav Venkatesh, GM Mitrabha Guha, GM Karthik Venkataraman, GM Vaishali R, IM Divya Deshmukh, WGM Savitha Shri B, and Sarayu Velpula. Can you guess their combined Elo rating? I may have forgotten a name or two on the trip, so apologies for that.
Indigo announces names of Indian participants in World Rapid and Blitz Championship 2023 | Video: Indian Chess Rule
After the opening press conference, opening ceremony and drawing of lots, the day concluded with a dinner party in a restaurant in downtown Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
A lavish dinner for chess players and officials at FIDE World Rapid and Blitz 2023 | Video: Indian Chess Rule
Video gallery
Magnus Carlsen answers questions at the opening press conference of FIDE World Rapid and Blitz 2023 | Video: Indian Chess Rule
Magnus Carlsen arrives at the opening ceremony of World Rapid and Blitz 2023 | Video: Indian Chess Rule
Players arrive at the opening ceremony of World Rapid and Blitz 2023 | Video: Indian Chess Rule
A fan gets an autograph from Magnus Carlsen | Video: Indian Chess Rule
Epic WACA Reunion | Video: Indian Chess Rule
As for Anish Giri and Vidit Gujrati | Video: Indian Chess Rule
The Fast and Fast World Video Blog 2023 | Chennai to Samarkand | Video: Indian Chess Rule
This couple is trying to create a toxin-free app Vedette and Melissa on Wilder and Chess | Video: Indian Chess Rule
Top Indian players gather at Delhi airport | Video: Indian Chess Rule
Vidit Gujrathi on his fast and furious global goals 2023 + nominees race | Video: Indian Chess Rule
World Rapid and Blitz 2023 Vlog 2 | Video: Indian Chess Rule
We found these unique chess sets in Uzbekistan | Video: Indian Chess Rule
Gokesh helps Sagar get a personal gift from Anish! | Video: Indian Chess Rule
Wildr competition and a one-month premium subscription to ChessBase
Win a prize worth INR 10,000 by predicting the winners of World Rapid and Blitz 2023 till December 26. pridect here.
We also have a new challenge starting today which is World Rapid and Blitz Best Moments 2023. Join now. It has prizes worth INR 18,000 and also Surya Ganguly’s latest video course on rook end games.
Day 1 Live Commentary by GM Viswanathan Anand & WGM Anastasiya Karlovich from 3 PM local time, 3:30 PM IST
