Norway's Magnus Carlsen has once again cemented his status as the undisputed king of speed chess, clinching his ninth World Blitz Championship title in Doha, Qatar. This remarkable victory, secured on Tuesday, completes a stunning double for the Norwegian grandmaster, who had already won the World Rapid Championship just two days earlier.
A Historic Fifth Double for the Chess Maestro
By triumphing in both the rapid and blitz events, Carlsen achieved the coveted 'double' for an unprecedented fifth time in his career. He previously accomplished this extraordinary feat in 2014, 2019, 2022, and 2023. This latest success underlines his continued supremacy in the faster time controls, even after stepping away from defending the classical world championship title, a decision he attributed to a lack of motivation.
The path to the blitz title was not without its challenges. Carlsen experienced a shaky start during the initial 19-game open tournament phase. However, the world number one demonstrated his characteristic resilience, battling through to secure a spot in the semi-finals.
Road to Victory: Semis and a Tense Final
In the last four, Carlsen faced American rival Fabiano Caruana, dispatching him with a convincing 3-1 scoreline. This set up a final showdown against Uzbekistan's rising star, 21-year-old Nodirbek Abdusattorov, in a best-of-four match.
The final began with a setback for the favourite, as Abdusattorov seized the first game. Unfazed, the 35-year-old Carlsen, who also won the prestigious Freestyle Chess Grand Slam earlier this year, struck back immediately to level the match in game two. A tense draw in the third game set the stage for a dramatic decider.
In the fourth and final game, a complex time scramble ensued. Keeping his legendary composure under intense pressure, Carlsen expertly navigated the endgame to prevail, sealing a 2½-1½ match victory and his ninth blitz crown.
Assaubayeva Triumphs in Women's Championship
The women's world blitz championship also concluded with a thrilling final. Uzbekistan's Bibisara Assaubayeva emerged victorious, defeating Ukraine's Anna Muzychuk by an identical 2½-1½ score to claim the title.
Carlsen's dual triumph in Doha sends a powerful message to the chess world. It confirms that his motivation and skill remain at a peerless level in the rapid and blitz disciplines, ensuring his reign at the pinnacle of fast-paced chess continues unabated.
