Norwegian grandmaster 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, sealed on Tuesday, completes a stunning double for the world number one, 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 disciplines at the same event, Carlsen has now achieved the prestigious rapid and blitz double for a fifth time in his illustrious career. He previously accomplished this rare feat in 2014, 2019, 2022, and 2023. His latest success underlines a period of sustained dominance in the faster time controls, even after he stepped away from defending the classical world championship title.
Path to Victory in the Blitz Final
Carlsen's journey to the blitz title was not without its challenges. After a somewhat shaky performance in the initial 19-game open tournament, he found his form in the knockout stages. He first dispatched American rival Fabiano Caruana with a convincing 3-1 scoreline in the semi-finals.
This set up a final showdown against Uzbekistan's rising star, 21-year-old Nodirbek Abdusattorov. The best-of-four match began poorly for the Norwegian, who lost the opening game. However, demonstrating his characteristic resilience and experience, the 35-year-old Carlsen struck back immediately to win the second game. A tense draw in the third set the stage for a dramatic fourth and final game.
In a nerve-wracking time scramble, Carlsen kept his composure to outplay his opponent in the endgame, securing a 2½-1½ match victory and with it, his historic ninth blitz crown.
Assaubayeva Triumphs in Women's Championship
In the women's competition, the spotlight fell on Uzbekistan's Bibisara Assaubayeva. She emerged victorious in a tightly contested final against Ukraine's Anna Muzychuk, also winning by a score of 2½-1½ to claim the women's world blitz title.
Carlsen's double victory in Doha adds another extraordinary chapter to his legacy. It follows his success earlier this year in winning the Freestyle Chess grand slam title, proving that his motivation and skill remain at a peerless level. For the global chess community, the message is clear: Magnus Carlsen's reign over the rapid and blitz chess world continues unabated.
