WR Chess is the inaugural World Blitz Team 2024 Champion, MGD1 second
WR Chess defeated MGD1 to win the World Blitz Team Championship 2024. Thus, they managed to win both inaugural editions of FIDE World Rapid (2023) and Blitz Team Championships. MGD1 played really well as they beat the newly crowned World Rapid Team champion - Al-Ain ACMG UAE in the Semifinals. MGD1 defeating AAAU in the tie-breaks 3.5-2.5 in a must-win situation was definitely their highlight of the day. In the Finals, Arjun defeated the World no.1, Magnus Carlsen. The team lost as only Mihir managed the other victory. The second match ended in a draw which allowed WR Chess to clinch the championship. Photos: Niklesh Jain
Arjun beats Carlsen in Finals 1, Team MGD1 outstanding
Magnus Carlsen has won everything is there to win in terms of individual events and accolades. Only one thing was remaining - a major team event victory. Until this event, he had won the Norwegian League and European Club Cup last year. Now winning the World Blitz Team Championship means he has also won a World title in a team event, which is the highest in Blitz format. Why Magnus did not face Hans Niemann in any of their three possible encounters or why Praggnanandhaa did not play in the Finals, are anybody's guess. Occam's razor is the best way to find an answer if you are looking for one.
MGD1 had a fantastic event. The entire team played well. Their best win as a team occurred when they needed the most - tie-break victory in the Semifinals over the newly crowned World Rapid Team champion - Al-Ain ACMG UAE.
Pool stage
The 40 teams were divided equally into a five pools of eight teams each. Each team played seven matches in their respective pool in round-robin matches. WR Chess, MGD1, Decade China, Chessy and Kazchess topped their respective pools from A to E with a perfect score 14/14. Top three teams of each pool advanced to the KO stage - Round of 16. The 16th team was the best fourth place finisher which turned out to be Hunnu Air. They scored 8/14 to advance to the next stage.
Replay all Pool stage games
Knockout stage
In Round of 16, all favorites won their duels to advance to the Quarterfinals. Only Teniz Kazakhstan drew with Ashdod Chess Club 3-3. However, they lost the second match 1-5 and ACC advanced to the next stage.
The Quarterfinals witnessed only one tie-breaks after Decade China drew both of their matches against Al-Ain ACMG UAE. AAAU won the Playoff 3.5-2.5 to knockout DC. WR Chess defeated GMHans.com twice 2.5-3.5 and 5.5-0.5. MGD1 defeated ACC twice 2-4 and 4.5-1.5. Chessy drew the first match against Kazchess 3-3 and won the second 5-1 to secure their place in the Semifinals.
In Semifinal, MGD1 drew with AAAU twice, then won the tie-breaks 3.5-2.5. WRC defeated Chessy 4.5-1.5 and then drew the second match 3-3 to advance to the Finals.
MGD1 lost the first match in the Finals. However, Arjun Erigaisi outplayed Magnus Carlsen to hand him his sole defeat in the Blitz. The World no.1 opted to rush to a queenless middlegame in the King's Indian Defence. Arjun was not going to let his opportunity slip by.
Photo Gallery
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Replay live commentary
Team composition
Each team will consist of at least six and maximum nine players. Apart from having to include at least one female player, just like last year, teams will have to include a recreational player, who has never achieved a Standard, Rapid or Blitz FIDE rating of 2000 or more. It is not mandatory for the teams to have board order as per rating. For more details, please check the tournament regulations, link provided at the end of the article.
Format
The Pool stage and Knockout Blitz team event had a time control of 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment from move no.1. There is no default time. No penalty shall be imposed on a player if he/she is late for any of his/her games. Scoring is usual for a team event. Match points: Win = 2, Draw = 1 and Loss = 0.
Replay Knockout stage games
Knockout results
| Round 1 (2024/08/05) | |||||
| No. | Team | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | MatchPts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WR Chess Team | 4,5 | 4,5 | 4 | |
| 14 | Hunnu Air | 1,5 | 1,5 | 0 | |
| 2 | Al-Ain ACMG UAE | 6 | 3,5 | 4 | |
| 10 | Astana-1 | 0 | 2,5 | 0 | |
| 16 | Greco | 1,5 | 2,5 | 0 | |
| 3 | Decade China Team | 4,5 | 3,5 | 4 | |
| 4 | Chessy | 4 | 4 | 4 | |
| 11 | Q4Rail Kingsofchess Krakow | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| 12 | Rookies | 2,5 | 2 | 0 | |
| 7 | Kazchess | 3,5 | 4 | 4 | |
| 5 | Team MGD1 | 5,5 | 4 | 4 | |
| 15 | Astana-2 | 0,5 | 2 | 0 | |
| 13 | Teniz Kazakhstan | 3 | 1 | 1 | |
| 6 | Ashdod Chess Club | 3 | 5 | 3 | |
| 9 | GMHans.com | 3,5 | 5 | 4 | |
| 8 | Royal Chess | 2,5 | 1 | 0 | |
| Quarterfinal - Round 2 (2024/08/05) | |||||
| No. | Team | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | MatchPts. |
| 9 | GMHans.com | 2,5 | 0,5 | 0 | |
| 1 | WR Chess Team | 3,5 | 5,5 | 4 | |
| 3 | Decade China Team | 3 | 3 | 2,5 | 2 |
| 2 | Al-Ain ACMG UAE | 3 | 3 | 3,5 | 4 |
| 7 | Kazchess | 3 | 1 | 1 | |
| 4 | Chessy | 3 | 5 | 3 | |
| 6 | Ashdod Chess Club | 2 | 1,5 | 0 | |
| 5 | Team MGD1 | 4 | 4,5 | 4 | |
| Semifinal - Round 3 (2024/08/05) | |||||
| No. | Team | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | MatchPts. |
| 5 | Team MGD1 | 3 | 3 | 3,5 | 4 |
| 2 | Al-Ain ACMG UAE | 3 | 3 | 2,5 | 2 |
| 1 | WR Chess Team | 4,5 | 3 | 3 | |
| 4 | Chessy | 1,5 | 3 | 1 | |
| Final - Round 4 (2024/08/05) | |||||
| No. | Team | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | MatchPts. |
| 5 | Team MGD1 | 2,5 | 3 | 1 | |
| 1 | WR Chess Team | 3,5 | 3 | 3 | |
Pool stage
Final standings: A, B, C, D, and E
Venue
The venue for the event will be Congress Center in Astana, Kazakhstan
Prize
The total prize fund is €250000 in Rapid and €100000 in Blitz. There are six prizes in Rapid - top five and one rating category. The top three prizes are: €100000, 60000 and 40000 each respectively. Best U2400 will earn €12500. For Blitz, there are four prizes with a total of €100000. They are - €40000, €25000, €17500 and €17500 each.
Links
Blitz Pool Process Regulations