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The World Rapid and Blitz 2019 begins with a colourful opening ceremony at the Russian Chess Museum

by Sagar Shah - 26/12/2019

The King Salman World Rapid and Blitz Championship 2019 is here! It is one of the most exciting events of the year with the participation of almost all of the top players in the world including World Champion Magnus Carlsen. Carlsen will be looking to win the title in both rapid and blitz and make it a triple crown for himself! The opening ceremony was held on the 25th of December at the Russian Chess Museum on the Gogolevsky Boulevard in Moscow. IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal were present at the venue and bring you some of the first-hand impressions from the place. We also have some very interesting interviews with Carlsen, Wang Hao, Sara Khadem, Anton Korobov and Peter Leko.

The year 2019 is coming to an end and for a chess fan, there is no better way to see it through than watching the fast paced thrilling action from the World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2019. The first round of the rapid section will begin from the 26th of December 2019. On the day of Christmas, 25th of December, the Opening Ceremony was held at the famous Russian Chess Museum on the Gogolevsky Boulevard. How did it all pan out? Here's a short video that gives you the feel of what took place:

A summary video of what took place at the opening ceremony of the World Rapid and Blitz 2019

It was one of those opening ceremonies where the organizers hoped that only the invited players would turn up as the space at the Russian Chess Museum wasn't enough to accommodate all the players.

But when you have so many top players of the world and all the big dignitaries of FIDE present, you are bound to have a lot of media attention as well! | Photo: Amruta Mokal

The turnout was big. There were basically two rooms on the first floor of the Russian Chess Museum. One where the actual opening ceremony took place and another one where the press conferences happened and the players could follow the opening ceremony through an LED television. Magnus Carlsen, Anna Muzychuk, Hikaru Nakamura and Kateryna Lagno, the top four seeds in four events (open and women rapid and blitz) were the only top players apart from the media and the FIDE officials in the main opening ceremony hall. The rest of the players were socializing in the other room, talking to each other, exchanging ideas, doing interviews and enjoying the delicious food!

Magnus Carlsen having a bit of fun while choosing his colour at the drawing of lots! | Photo: Amruta Mokal

 

Anna Muzychuk, the top seed in the world rapid women's section, drew the white colour | Photo: Amruta Mokal

The world no.1 in blitz is not Magnus. It's Hikaru Nakamura. He also got the white pieces in round one of the blitz on board 1. | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Local favourite and the defending champion in the women's blitz event Kateryna Lagno also drew white in game one of the Women's World Blitz Championship. Kateryna is the only women's player who has an Elo of 2600+ | Photo: Amruta Mokal
A small press conference was held where we were able to ask Magnus his thoughts about the upcoming Candidates event, who he thinks are favourite. Magnus also speaks about the MVL issue.

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich,  President of Saudi Chess Federation Rami Altassan and Executive director of the Russian Chess Federation Mark Glukhovsky | Photo: Amruta Mokal

The World Champion with the VIPs! | Photo: Amruta Mokal

All the top media houses of Russia were here to interview with FIDE President, VIPs and top Russian players | Photo: Amruta Mokal

An Indian and two Iranians - Humpy with Atousa Pourkashiyan and Sarasadat Khademalsharieh | Photo: Amruta Mokal

The festive decoration of the opening ceremony | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Ian Nepomniachtchi interviewed after successfully making it to the Candidates 2019 | Photo: Amruta Mokal

With Vishy Anand not taking part, India's flag will be carried by Vidit Gujrathi who is present at the event with his father Santosh Gujrathi | Photo: Amruta Mokal

MVL speaks to the FIDE press officer Milan Dinic as David Llada looks on. The French GM's manager has made an appeal to the Russian Chess Federation to consider the spot of wild card given to Alekseenko. | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Alekseenko, on the other hand, looked cool, calm and composed, and was busy throughout the evening giving interviews to the Russian media | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Well-known Russian pianist, singer and composer Denis Mazhukov performed at the event | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Apart from the players, it also a big pleasure to see legends like Boris Dolmatovsky (photographer from the Karpov vs Kasparov matches fame) in action | Photo: Amruta Mokal
Wang Hao in an interview with ChessBase India speaks openly about being in the Candidates 2020, his personal equation with Ding Liren and his favourite video game!

Starting list for World Rapid open

No. NameFideIDRtg
1GMCarlsen Magnus15030142886
2GMVachier-Lagrave Maxime6235392873
3GMNakamura Hikaru20161922819
4GMKorobov Anton141057302818
5GMGrischuk Alexander41260252808
6GMAronian Levon133004742784
7GMFedoseev Vladimir241307372768
8GMArtemiev Vladislav241016052756
9GMDominguez Perez Leinier35032402755
10GMKamsky Gata20000242755
11GMDubov Daniil241260552752
12GMMamedyarov Shakhriyar134013192752
13GMDuda Jan-Krzysztof11705462751
14GMKarjakin Sergey141096032749
15GMAndreikin Dmitry41588142748
16GMJakovenko Dmitry41223562748
17GMWang Hao86028832748
18GMGiri Anish241160682747
19GMYu Yangyi86038202747
20GMNepomniachtchi Ian41681192745

 

Complete list

Starting list for World Rapid women

No. NameFideIDRtg
1
GMMuzychuk Anna141113302592
2
GMKosteniuk Alexandra41281252538
3
GMLagno Kateryna141093362533
4
GMMuzychuk Mariya141145502518
5
GMLei Tingjie86051142498
6
GMTan Zhongyi86036422496
7
WGMPogonina Natalija41478552494
8
IMAbdumalik Zhansaya137035442484
9
GMDzagnidze Nana136019032478
10
GMStefanova Antoaneta29022572455
11
IMSaduakassova Dinara137000902446
12
GMUshenina Anna141109112439
13
GMKoneru Humpy50081232438
14
GMGunina Valentina41675702434
15
GMCramling Pia17000302428
16
GMHarika Dronavalli50151972425
17
IMKhademalsharieh Sarasadat125122142421
18
IMMammadova Gulnar134035082418
19
IMArabidze Meri136040402416
20
GMKrush Irina20127822415

Complete list

Starting list for World Blitz open

No. NameFideIDRtg
1
GMNakamura Hikaru20161922885
2
GMCarlsen Magnus15030142865
3
GMKarjakin Sergey141096032836
4
GMNepomniachtchi Ian41681192826
5
GMYu Yangyi86038202807
6
GMSvidler Peter41021422805
7
GMDuda Jan-Krzysztof11705462796
8
GMArtemiev Vladislav241016052793
9
GMAndreikin Dmitry41588142780
10
GMGiri Anish241160682769
11
GMLe Quang Liem124011372768
12
GMVachier-Lagrave Maxime6235392768
13
GMAndriasian Zaven133020002766
14
GMVidit Santosh Gujrathi50294652756
15
GMZubov Alexander141094092754
16
GMKramnik Vladimir41015882748
17
GMGrischuk Alexander41260252741
18
GMDubov Daniil241260552736
19
GMKorobov Anton141057302720
20
GMMatlakov Maxim41680032720

Complete list

Starting list for World Blitz women

No. NameFideIDRtg
1
GMLagno Kateryna141093362606
2
GMLei Tingjie86051142543
3
GMKosteniuk Alexandra41281252521
4
GMMuzychuk Anna141113302504
5
GMKoneru Humpy50081232489
6
GMTan Zhongyi86036422480
7
IMKhademalsharieh Sarasadat125122142463
8
IMKulon Klaudia11310442457
9
GMStefanova Antoaneta29022572452
10
GMHarika Dronavalli50151972445
11
GMDzagnidze Nana136019032432
12
GMUshenina Anna141109112424
13
IMAbdumalik Zhansaya137035442415
14
IMGalliamova Alisa41297252415
15
IMGaponenko Inna141011812415
16
IMArabidze Meri136040402412
17
IMSaduakassova Dinara137000902390
18
GMCramling Pia17000302383
19
WIMSargsyan Anna M.133081302382
20
IMPaehtz Elisabeth46418332380

Complete list

Alireza Firouzja not playing for the Iran flag

Alireza Firouzja, number one player of Iran, will play under the FIDE flag and not Iran

Players who have represented Iran have always faced a problem when pitted against an Israeli opponent. We saw this happening at the World Juniors, where facing the Israeli opponents was so stressful, that both Aryan Gholami and Amin Tatatabaei not only had to give walkovers but also had to withdraw their names from the event after a point. Such walkovers are detrimental for any ambitious player, especially Alireza Firouzja who is one of the biggest talents in the world of chess right now. Although Alireza's rating is in 2600 zone for both rapid and blitz it wouldn't wrong to say that he is one of the contenders for a podium finish at this year's world rapid and blitz. In order to not jeopardize his chances, he has decided not to play under the Iran flag and have problems against Israeli opponents like Gelfand, Postny, Smirin, Postny, Huzman. Rather Firouzja plays under the FIDE flag. It's quite a big loss for Iran as their biggest talent won't play for them, but it seems like this was the only decision that Alireza had at his disposal if he wants to play without stress.

We ask Sara Khadem, Iran no.1 player, as to what she thinks about Alireza Firouzja's decision

A grandmaster with an Elo of 1799?

One player that no one would like to face at the World Rapid Championships 2019 is D. Gukesh! The second youngest GM in the world currently has an Elo of just 1799 in rapid. Even if a top player beats him, they would get close to one or two Elo points. While this tournament is like Christmas party for Gukesh. It will be interesting to see as to how many Elo points he collects during the tournament!

 

An important question to be asked is - how come a player with such a low rating is admitted to the tournament? Well, in the open section the rating cut off is 2550 and above. As Gukesh's classical rating meets this criteria, it is good enough for him to participate.

Kramnik coming back from retirement!

One of the biggest excitements for chess fans in this year's World Blitz championships is the comeback of Vladimir Kramnik. The 14th World Champion is going to come out from his retirement for a couple of days to play at the blitz event. We were curious to know as to how Vladimir would be preparing for this event. Would he be taking it for fun, as he had mentioned in his press release or would he working hard to be in the best possible shape? We decided to ask this question to his old friend and rival Peter Leko.

Peter Leko speaks about the favourites of the event and also what he thinks about Kramnik's mindset before the event

The Schedule of the entire event!