Magnus Carlsen, the Norwegian chess phenomenon, has once again stamped his authority on the game by clinching a remarkable fifth rapid and blitz world championship double. The world number one secured his ninth World Blitz Chess title in Doha on Tuesday, just days after triumphing in the rapid format.
A Historic Ninth Blitz Crown
Carlsen's latest victory solidifies his status as the undisputed king of speed chess. To claim the 2024 blitz title, he defeated Uzbekistan's young grandmaster, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, in a tense final with a score of 2½-1½. This win marks his fifth combined rapid and blitz double, a feat he previously accomplished in 2014, 2019, 2022, and 2023.
The path to the final was not without its challenges. After a somewhat shaky performance in the initial 19 games, Carlsen found his form to advance to the semi-finals. There, he convincingly beat American rival Fabiano Caruana 3-1. The final against the 21-year-old Abdusattorov began with a setback for the 35-year-old Norwegian, who lost the first game. However, demonstrating his legendary resilience, Carlsen struck back to win the second, secured a draw in the third, and kept his composure in a complex fourth-game endgame to seal the championship.
Dominance Beyond the Classical Game
This double victory underscores Carlsen's continued supremacy across all time controls, despite his decision to step away from the traditional World Chess Championship cycle. Having relinquished the classical title after wins in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2021, citing a lack of motivation for that particular format, he has redirected his focus with staggering success.
2024 has been a particularly strong year for Carlsen, who also added the prestigious Freestyle Chess grand slam title to his collection. His ability to dominate both the rapid and blitz disciplines, which demand immense precision under severe time pressure, highlights a unique aspect of his genius.
Assaubayeva Claims Women's Title
In the women's competition, the spotlight fell on Bibisara Assaubayeva of Uzbekistan. She emerged victorious in a closely contested final against Ukraine's Anna Muzychuk, winning by an identical 2½-1½ scoreline to claim the world blitz championship.
Carlsen's latest achievements in Doha send a clear message to the chess world: his motivation and skill remain at a peak, and his reign over the faster formats of the game is as formidable as ever.
