Anish Giri hilariously trolls Ian Nepomniachtchi after controversy at World Blitz Team Championship: 'The good thing with Ian is'

The 2025 edition of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships recently wrapped up in London, where Team MGD1 won the rapid title and WR Chess ended up winning the blitz title. However, the tournament didn’t end without its fair share of controversy that happened after the WR Chess team got a chance to replay their quarter-final match, which they had originally lost.

The original loss came after WR players, including Alireza Firouzja, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Hikaru Nakamura, arrived late to their games against Germany and Friends due to alleged confusion over round timings. Vincent Keymer’s team handed a 4-2 defeat to WR Chess, following which the latter protested and got a re-match arranged.

The match was replayed and WR Chess won 4.5-1.5 and 4-2. They then defeated Hexamind Chess Team in the semi-finals and KazChess in the final to win the FIDE World Blitz Team Championship 2025. However, Hexamind’s Anish Giri wasn’t happy with how things went and exchanged words with WR players, including Nakamura and Nepomniachtchi.

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Giri mocked by Nepo and Nakamura

In a video shared by ChessBase India, Giri was seen confronting the WR players, repeatedly asking, “Would you have replayed the match if you had won?”

That triggered a heated exchange with Nepomniachtchi, who hit back by saying things like, “Big expert in law, Anish. Since when? Next FIDE president. Anish seems so smart, but whenever he opens his mouth… it’s already questionable.” Nakamura was heard saying, “Why does he care so much?”

Chess Reality Show 🤣💀

Edit: @ram_abhyudaya#chess #chessbaseindia #hikarunakamura #nepomniachtchi #anishgiri pic.twitter.com/LPCj8dAZI7

— ChessBase India (@ChessbaseIndia) June 16, 2025

Giri takes fresh jibe at Nepomniachtchi

Meanwhile, American GM Hans Niemann joined in on X, joking: “I think Anish and Nepo should settle things on the chess board. Happy to sponsor a match on Endgame!”

Giri has now fired back at Nepomniachtchi with a fresh jibe referencing a previous World Blitz Championship where the Russian GM and five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen agreed to share the title after multiple draws. “The good thing with Ian is, one doesn’t even need to beat him. Just hang in there long enough and he will probably accept to share the title. What do you think, Ian?"

The good thing with Ian is, one doesn't even need to beat him. Just hang in there long enough and he will probably accept to share the title.🙈

What do you think @lachesisq?😅 https://t.co/qQOBf9Apbd

— Anish Giri (@anishgiri) June 16, 2025