 "FIDE World Rapid & Blitz 2025: Key players to watch in Doha in the Open category")
The FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships 2025 are set to take place in Doha, Qatar, from December 25 to 30. The tournament will be held at the Sports and Events Complex at Qatar University and will mark Doha’s return as host after nine years. With more than €1,000,000 in prize money on offer, the event has attracted some of the biggest names in world chess.
This year’s championship includes both Open and Women’s events in Rapid and Blitz formats. A total of 233 players have entered the Blitz Open, while 230 players are set to compete in the Rapid event. Ahead of the final FIDE event of the year, let’s take a look at some of the top contenders, who will look to win the titles this edition in Doha.
FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships top players
Magnus Carlsen
The biggest spotlight is on Magnus Carlsen. The former world champion is the top seed in both Open Rapid and Open Blitz events, with ratings of 2824 and 2881 respectively. Carlsen is widely considered the favourite to take at least one title in Doha. He had shared the gold in the Blitz category in the 2024 edition in New York.
Ian Nepomniachtchi
Another strong contender is Ian Nepomniachtchi, who comes into the event as the second seed in both Rapid and Blitz. With ratings of 2762 in Rapid and 2801 in Blitz, the Russian grandmaster has a proven record in speed chess, and he also shared the gold in Blitz with Carlsen last year.
Arjun Erigaisi
India will also have high hopes from Arjun Erigaisi, the country’s top-rated classical player. Arjun enters the tournament as the eighth seed in Rapid with a rating of 2714 and ninth seed in Blitz at 2749. His recent rise has been impressive, and he was also part of the team that won the World Rapid Team Chess Championship in London this year.
D Gukesh
India’s D Gukesh, the reigning world chess champion, will also be one of the key names to watch. While 2025 has not been his strongest year in terms of results, Gukesh has shown that he can still give others a run for their money in the faster time controls, as he did in Zagreb earlier this year, where he finished third overall.
Fabiano Caruana
Fabiano Caruana is another major name in the field. The American grandmaster is the fourth seed in Rapid and seventh in Blitz, both with a rating of 2751. While he is more often associated with classical chess, Caruana has the experience and skill to challenge the best even in shorter time controls.
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