Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen clinched his sixth World Rapid Chess Championship title after a dramatic final day at the Qatar 2025 FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship, finishing a full point clear of the field with 10.5 points from 13 games.
The victory marked Carlsen’s 19th world championship title across classical, rapid, and blitz formats, earning the Norwegian €70,000. Vladislav Artemiev secured second place, while India’s Arjun Erigaisi finished third.
In the women’s event, Russia’s Aleksandra Goryachkina claimed her first World Rapid title, defeating China’s Zhu Jiner in a two-game blitz playoff to take the €40,000 top prize. Zhu finished second, with India’s Koneru Humpy taking bronze after being part of a three-way tie for first place.
After a difficult second day, Carlsen surged back on the final day, recording three consecutive wins against Alexey Sarana, Hans Niemann, and Yagiz Erdogmus. He entered the final round with a one-point lead over Artemiev and Niemann and secured the title with a quick draw as White against Anish Giri.
“This was a very strong field,” Carlsen said. “I always come here to play for first place, and that gives me a psychological advantage. Apart from a poor start on day two, everything worked well for me.”
Four players finished on 9.5 points: Artemiev, Erigaisi, Niemann, and Leinier Dominguez Perez. Artemiev, the only player to defeat Carlsen in the event, claimed silver on tiebreaks, while Erigaisi took bronze. Niemann missed out on a medal by half a Buchholz point.
Among Qatari players, International Master Hussein Aziz finished 212th with 4.5 points, while Khalid Al Jumaat scored three points. Hamad Al Kuwari and Ibrahim Al Janahi ended on 2.5 points each. From the Arab contingent, UAE grandmaster Salem Abdul Rahman finished 106th with six points, Syria’s Mazen Fandi placed 163rd on six points, and Rami Taleb was 191st with 5.5 points.
In the Women’s Rapid, Zhu Jiner, Goryachkina and defending champion Koneru Humpy were tied for the lead heading into the final round. Draws for Zhu and Goryachkina, combined with Koneru missing a winning chance, meant only Zhu and Goryachkina progressed to the playoff under tournament regulations. Goryachkina won the first blitz game and drew the second to secure the title.
Former world champion Zhu Chen finished 112th among the women with 4.5 points, while Qatari national team player Ghada Al Khulaifi scored 2.5 points.
FIDE Secretary-General Lucas Torley praised the Qatar 2025 World Rapid and Blitz Championships, describing them as among the most prestigious events on the calendar, with around 400 players competing across both categories.
Attention now turns to the World Blitz Championship, which begins on Monday and will be contested over two days in both the Open and Women’s sections.
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