The World Rapid and Blitz 2019 begins with a colourful opening ceremony at the Russian Chess Museum

by Sagar Shah - 26/12/2019

The King Salman World Rapid and Blitz Championship 2019 is here! It is one of the most exciting events of the year with the participation of almost all of the top players in the world including World Champion Magnus Carlsen. Carlsen will be looking to win the title in both rapid and blitz and make it a triple crown for himself! The opening ceremony was held on the 25th of December at the Russian Chess Museum on the Gogolevsky Boulevard in Moscow. IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal were present at the venue and bring you some of the first-hand impressions from the place. We also have some very interesting interviews with Carlsen, Wang Hao, Sara Khadem, Anton Korobov and Peter Leko.

The year 2019 is coming to an end and for a chess fan, there is no better way to see it through than watching the fast paced thrilling action from the World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2019. The first round of the rapid section will begin from the 26th of December 2019. On the day of Christmas, 25th of December, the Opening Ceremony was held at the famous Russian Chess Museum on the Gogolevsky Boulevard. How did it all pan out? Here's a short video that gives you the feel of what took place:

A summary video of what took place at the opening ceremony of the World Rapid and Blitz 2019

It was one of those opening ceremonies where the organizers hoped that only the invited players would turn up as the space at the Russian Chess Museum wasn't enough to accommodate all the players.

But when you have so many top players of the world and all the big dignitaries of FIDE present, you are bound to have a lot of media attention as well! | Photo: Amruta Mokal

The turnout was big. There were basically two rooms on the first floor of the Russian Chess Museum. One where the actual opening ceremony took place and another one where the press conferences happened and the players could follow the opening ceremony through an LED television. Magnus Carlsen, Anna Muzychuk, Hikaru Nakamura and Kateryna Lagno, the top four seeds in four events (open and women rapid and blitz) were the only top players apart from the media and the FIDE officials in the main opening ceremony hall. The rest of the players were socializing in the other room, talking to each other, exchanging ideas, doing interviews and enjoying the delicious food!

Magnus Carlsen having a bit of fun while choosing his colour at the drawing of lots! | Photo: Amruta Mokal

World Champion @MagnusCarlsen has some fun at the drawing of lots of the World Rapid and Blitz 2019.

Watch the full video of the opening ceremony: https://t.co/1yn6PFARxb pic.twitter.com/C3Vqy404jV
— ChessBase India (@ChessbaseIndia) December 25, 2019

Anna Muzychuk, the top seed in the world rapid women's section, drew the white colour | Photo: Amruta Mokal

The world no.1 in blitz is not Magnus. It's Hikaru Nakamura. He also got the white pieces in round one of the blitz on board 1. | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Local favourite and the defending champion in the women's blitz event Kateryna Lagno also drew white in game one of the Women's World Blitz Championship. Kateryna is the only women's player who has an Elo of 2600+ | Photo: Amruta Mokal

A small press conference was held where we were able to ask Magnus his thoughts about the upcoming Candidates event, who he thinks are favourite. Magnus also speaks about the MVL issue.

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, President of Saudi Chess Federation Rami Altassan and Executive director of the Russian Chess Federation Mark Glukhovsky | Photo: Amruta Mokal

The World Champion with the VIPs! | Photo: Amruta Mokal

All the top media houses of Russia were here to interview with FIDE President, VIPs and top Russian players | Photo: Amruta Mokal

An Indian and two Iranians - Humpy with Atousa Pourkashiyan and Sarasadat Khademalsharieh | Photo: Amruta Mokal

The festive decoration of the opening ceremony | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Ian Nepomniachtchi interviewed after successfully making it to the Candidates 2019 | Photo: Amruta Mokal

With Vishy Anand not taking part, India's flag will be carried by Vidit Gujrathi who is present at the event with his father Santosh Gujrathi | Photo: Amruta Mokal

MVL speaks to the FIDE press officer Milan Dinic as David Llada looks on. The French GM's manager has made an appeal to the Russian Chess Federation to consider the spot of wild card given to Alekseenko. | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Alekseenko, on the other hand, looked cool, calm and composed, and was busy throughout the evening giving interviews to the Russian media | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Well-known Russian pianist, singer and composer Denis Mazhukov performed at the event | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Apart from the players, it also a big pleasure to see legends like Boris Dolmatovsky (photographer from the Karpov vs Kasparov matches fame) in action | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Wang Hao in an interview with ChessBase India speaks openly about being in the Candidates 2020, his personal equation with Ding Liren and his favourite video game!

Starting list for World Rapid open

No.		Name	FideID	Rtg
1	GM	Carlsen Magnus	1503014	2886
2	GM	Vachier-Lagrave Maxime	623539	2873
3	GM	Nakamura Hikaru	2016192	2819
4	GM	Korobov Anton	14105730	2818
5	GM	Grischuk Alexander	4126025	2808
6	GM	Aronian Levon	13300474	2784
7	GM	Fedoseev Vladimir	24130737	2768
8	GM	Artemiev Vladislav	24101605	2756
9	GM	Dominguez Perez Leinier	3503240	2755
10	GM	Kamsky Gata	2000024	2755
11	GM	Dubov Daniil	24126055	2752
12	GM	Mamedyarov Shakhriyar	13401319	2752
13	GM	Duda Jan-Krzysztof	1170546	2751
14	GM	Karjakin Sergey	14109603	2749
15	GM	Andreikin Dmitry	4158814	2748
16	GM	Jakovenko Dmitry	4122356	2748
17	GM	Wang Hao	8602883	2748
18	GM	Giri Anish	24116068	2747
19	GM	Yu Yangyi	8603820	2747
20	GM	Nepomniachtchi Ian	4168119	2745

Complete list

Starting list for World Rapid women

No.		Name	FideID	Rtg
1	GM	Muzychuk Anna	14111330	2592
2	GM	Kosteniuk Alexandra	4128125	2538
3	GM	Lagno Kateryna	14109336	2533
4	GM	Muzychuk Mariya	14114550	2518
5	GM	Lei Tingjie	8605114	2498
6	GM	Tan Zhongyi	8603642	2496
7	WGM	Pogonina Natalija	4147855	2494
8	IM	Abdumalik Zhansaya	13703544	2484
9	GM	Dzagnidze Nana	13601903	2478
10	GM	Stefanova Antoaneta	2902257	2455
11	IM	Saduakassova Dinara	13700090	2446
12	GM	Ushenina Anna	14110911	2439
13	GM	Koneru Humpy	5008123	2438
14	GM	Gunina Valentina	4167570	2434
15	GM	Cramling Pia	1700030	2428
16	GM	Harika Dronavalli	5015197	2425
17	IM	Khademalsharieh Sarasadat	12512214	2421
18	IM	Mammadova Gulnar	13403508	2418
19	IM	Arabidze Meri	13604040	2416
20	GM	Krush Irina	2012782	2415

Complete list

Starting list for World Blitz open

No.		Name	FideID	Rtg
1	GM	Nakamura Hikaru	2016192	2885
2	GM	Carlsen Magnus	1503014	2865
3	GM	Karjakin Sergey	14109603	2836
4	GM	Nepomniachtchi Ian	4168119	2826
5	GM	Yu Yangyi	8603820	2807
6	GM	Svidler Peter	4102142	2805
7	GM	Duda Jan-Krzysztof	1170546	2796
8	GM	Artemiev Vladislav	24101605	2793
9	GM	Andreikin Dmitry	4158814	2780
10	GM	Giri Anish	24116068	2769
11	GM	Le Quang Liem	12401137	2768
12	GM	Vachier-Lagrave Maxime	623539	2768
13	GM	Andriasian Zaven	13302000	2766
14	GM	Vidit Santosh Gujrathi	5029465	2756
15	GM	Zubov Alexander	14109409	2754
16	GM	Kramnik Vladimir	4101588	2748
17	GM	Grischuk Alexander	4126025	2741
18	GM	Dubov Daniil	24126055	2736
19	GM	Korobov Anton	14105730	2720
20	GM	Matlakov Maxim	4168003	2720

Complete list

Starting list for World Blitz women

No.		Name	FideID	Rtg
1	GM	Lagno Kateryna	14109336	2606
2	GM	Lei Tingjie	8605114	2543
3	GM	Kosteniuk Alexandra	4128125	2521
4	GM	Muzychuk Anna	14111330	2504
5	GM	Koneru Humpy	5008123	2489
6	GM	Tan Zhongyi	8603642	2480
7	IM	Khademalsharieh Sarasadat	12512214	2463
8	IM	Kulon Klaudia	1131044	2457
9	GM	Stefanova Antoaneta	2902257	2452
10	GM	Harika Dronavalli	5015197	2445
11	GM	Dzagnidze Nana	13601903	2432
12	GM	Ushenina Anna	14110911	2424
13	IM	Abdumalik Zhansaya	13703544	2415
14	IM	Galliamova Alisa	4129725	2415
15	IM	Gaponenko Inna	14101181	2415
16	IM	Arabidze Meri	13604040	2412
17	IM	Saduakassova Dinara	13700090	2390
18	GM	Cramling Pia	1700030	2383
19	WIM	Sargsyan Anna M.	13308130	2382
20	IM	Paehtz Elisabeth	4641833	2380

Complete list

Alireza Firouzja not playing for the Iran flag

Alireza Firouzja, number one player of Iran, will play under the FIDE flag and not Iran

Players who have represented Iran have always faced a problem when pitted against an Israeli opponent. We saw this happening at the World Juniors, where facing the Israeli opponents was so stressful, that both Aryan Gholami and Amin Tatatabaei not only had to give walkovers but also had to withdraw their names from the event after a point. Such walkovers are detrimental for any ambitious player, especially Alireza Firouzja who is one of the biggest talents in the world of chess right now. Although Alireza's rating is in 2600 zone for both rapid and blitz it wouldn't wrong to say that he is one of the contenders for a podium finish at this year's world rapid and blitz. In order to not jeopardize his chances, he has decided not to play under the Iran flag and have problems against Israeli opponents like Gelfand, Postny, Smirin, Postny, Huzman. Rather Firouzja plays under the FIDE flag. It's quite a big loss for Iran as their biggest talent won't play for them, but it seems like this was the only decision that Alireza had at his disposal if he wants to play without stress.

We ask Sara Khadem, Iran no.1 player, as to what she thinks about Alireza Firouzja's decision

A grandmaster with an Elo of 1799?

One player that no one would like to face at the World Rapid Championships 2019 is D. Gukesh! The second youngest GM in the world currently has an Elo of just 1799 in rapid. Even if a top player beats him, they would get close to one or two Elo points. While this tournament is like Christmas party for Gukesh. It will be interesting to see as to how many Elo points he collects during the tournament!

An important question to be asked is - how come a player with such a low rating is admitted to the tournament? Well, in the open section the rating cut off is 2550 and above. As Gukesh's classical rating meets this criteria, it is good enough for him to participate.

Kramnik coming back from retirement!

One of the biggest excitements for chess fans in this year's World Blitz championships is the comeback of Vladimir Kramnik. The 14th World Champion is going to come out from his retirement for a couple of days to play at the blitz event. We were curious to know as to how Vladimir would be preparing for this event. Would he be taking it for fun, as he had mentioned in his press release or would he working hard to be in the best possible shape? We decided to ask this question to his old friend and rival Peter Leko.

Peter Leko speaks about the favourites of the event and also what he thinks about Kramnik's mindset before the event

The Schedule of the entire event!

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