The World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships are back, bigger and better than ever, with an unprecedented prize fund of €500,000. Following successful events in Düsseldorf (2023) and Astana (2024), the championships will be held in London from June 10–16, introducing an exciting new knockout stage in the Blitz competition.
Building on the addition of the blitz format in Astana 2024, this year’s event features significant enhancements, including a substantially increased prize fund and an extra day dedicated to the Blitz competition for the knockout rounds.
Championship Location
The championships will be hosted at the Novotel London West Hotel (1 Shortlands Hammersmith International Ctre, London W6 8DR, United Kingdom).
Record Prize Money
The total prize pool for 2025 has been increased to €500,000, a significant jump from last year’s €350,000. The rapid event will distribute €310,000, while the blitz tournament will offer €190,000 in prizes.
New Knockout Blitz Format
A key change for this year is the addition of a second day for the blitz competition, featuring a knockout system. After the successful blitz event in 2024, FIDE has decided to expand the competition. Blitz games will maintain the time control of three minutes plus two seconds per move, but the competition will now consist of two stages instead of one.
Stage 1: Pool Play
Teams will be divided into pools based on strength and compete in a round-robin tournament. Up to 16 teams from each pool will advance to the knockout stage.
Stage 2: Knockout Tournament
The qualifying teams from stage one will participate in a knockout tournament to determine the champion.
Growing Popularity of Chess
Chess is experiencing a global resurgence in popularity, including in the UK, where the government has recently increased funding for the sport. Notably, for the first time in 30 years, the BBC, a public broadcaster, will broadcast a TV program dedicated to chess. The show will follow 12 of Britain’s up-and-coming chess stars as they compete and explore the intricacies of the game.
Team Composition Requirements
The championship is open to any team meeting the official requirements, designed to ensure fair and inclusive competition.
- Each team must consist of 6 to 9 players.
- Each team must include at least one female player.
- Each team must include one recreational player (never achieved a FIDE Standard, Rapid, or Blitz rating of 2000 Elo or equivalent before March 2025). This rule encourages broader participation, allowing amateur players to compete with professionals.
- Each team must have a captain, who can also be a player.
Registration Information
The London event is open to 60 teams. 10 teams will be selected based on their highest ratings, 45 based on earliest registration, and 5 will be wild card entries from the organizers.
Teams can register by completing a Registration Form by May 10. A minimum of six players must be registered per team.
Full event regulations and team participation requirements are available at the FIDE handbook.
Conclusion
The FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships are a highlight of the chess calendar, offering a unique opportunity for top Grandmasters and chess enthusiasts to compete together and for the public to witness world-class chess action.
Elton Marrow