The World Blitz Chess Championship 2024, held in New York, left unforgettable moments and an outcome that will be remembered as a milestone in the history of chess. For the first time, the title was shared between two grandmasters: Magnus Carlsen e Ian Nepomniachtchi, who marked the closing of the tournament in an unexpected but significant way.
In a year in which chess has been at the centre of great debates and has witnessed exciting clashes, the city of New York became the epicenter of one of the most anticipated competitions. From the financial district of Wall Street, more than 300 elite players put their skills to the test in the Open and Women's categories, attracting the attention of millions of fans around the world.
A tournament marked by talent and emotion
The event kicked off with a stellar cast, including figures such as Magnus Carlsen, who was looking to defend his world Blitz title, and other stars such as Ian Nepomniachtchi, Fabiano Caruna y Alireza FirouzjaThe women's category was not left behind, with prominent names such as Ju Wenjun, Alexandra Kostenyuk y Bibisara Assaubayeva, who offered exciting matches that kept the audience on the edge of their seats.
The tournament format included two main phases. During the first few days, players competed in a Swiss system with 13 rounds in the Open category and 11 in the Women's category. The top eight then advanced to an exciting knockout phase, where rapid games and a high level of competition were the main features. The Blitz mode, with a time control of XNUMX players, was the first to compete in the Open category. 3 minutes plus 2 seconds increment, made it clear that in this sport precision and speed are key.
A historic outcome: two champions!
The championship final was not only exciting, but also a display of sportsmanship and mutual respect. After seven intense games and two initial victories of carlsen, Nepomniachtchi managed to balance the score. However, both players opted to stop the match and share the title, a decision that was supported by the FIDE president, Arkady Dvorkovich.
“Playing under these conditions would have been exhausting and cruel for both of us”He said carlsen, who proposed the idea. The agreement was sealed with a handshake and set a precedent in competitions of this level. Although this decision generated controversy among fans and grandmasters, it was also seen as an act of camaraderie between two of the best chess players in the world.
Controversies and highlights
The tournament was not without controversy. One of the most controversial moments was the sanction imposed on Magnus Carlsen for wearing jeans, violating the event's dress code. Although initially carlsen abandoned the World Rapid Championships in protest, negotiations with the FIDE allowed him to compete again in the Blitz category.
The incident prompted a review of the rules by FIDE, who eventually allowed minor deviations in the dress code. This episode highlighted the tensions between the players and the organisation, but also underlined the ability of the chess to adapt and evolve.
The great figures of the tournament
In addition to carlsen y Nepomniachtchi, other players left their mark on this competition. Fabiano Caruna shone in the initial rounds, while Volodar Murzin, the current champion of rapids, continued to demonstrate his talent. In the women's category, Ju Wenjun was one of the great protagonists, advancing undefeated for most of the tournament.
With the curtain down, the World Blitz Chess Championship 2024 will go down in history as an event full of excitement, talent and surprises. The historic decision to share the title not only marked a turning point, but also made it clear that chess continues to evolve, both on and off the board.
Source: FIDE