World Rapid Chess Championship Day One as it happened

Chess world champion Magnus Carlsen will look to add the Fide World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship title to his belt at the Dubai Chess and Cultural Club from June 15 to 21.

Carlsen has fond memories of Dubai, where he earned his third and final GM norm. He is the main draw in the competition, along with India’s Viswanathan Anand, who he will play again for world crown later this year in Sochi.

File picture of Magnus Carlsen. Getty Images

Last year the now 23-year-old Carlsen convincingly dethroned Anand from the top of the chess tree in the main format.

According to the Khaleej Times, “Carlsen who used to adapt rapid and blitzkrieg methods with fiery onslaughts from the word go has now evolved into a more universal player, a change that has seen him achieve the potential to reach the world champion’s throne.”

Winning both the Blitz and Rapid titles would be a significant achivement for Carlsen.