FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz 2026: Hong Kong Ready to Host Chess Stars
The world’s top chess players are heading to Hong Kong for the 2026 FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships. The event will take place from June 16 to 22 and is expected to attract more than 800 participants.
Alongside the main championship, the inaugural FIDE World Team Amateur Rapid Chess Cup will also be held. This makes it one of the biggest chess festivals of the year.
Hong Kong Becomes the Center of World Chess
Since its launch in 2023, the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Championship has become one of the most popular team chess events in the world.
The tournament brings together elite grandmasters, rising stars, women players, club players, business professionals, and chess enthusiasts. Teams compete in a unique mixed-team format for world titles in Rapid and Blitz chess.
The event has grown every year:
* 36 teams in Düsseldorf (2023)
* 38 teams in Astana (2024)
* Nearly 60 teams in London (2025)
* 48 teams and almost 400 players in Hong Kong (2026)
The new World Team Amateur Cup is expected to attract more than 400 additional participants.
FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich highlighted that the event is special because it brings together players of different ages, skill levels, and backgrounds under one roof.
First Time in East Asia
This is the first time the championship is being held in East Asia. The event is organized by FIDE and the Hong Kong China Chess Federation.
Hong Kong’s growing chess scene makes it a perfect host. The city has already organized major international tournaments and continues to establish itself as an important chess destination in Asia.
With chess powerhouses such as India, China, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan dominating the global stage, Hong Kong is ideally positioned to connect the region’s strongest chess cultures.
Tournament Venue and Format
The championship will be played at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium from June 17 to 21. A total of 48 teams have confirmed participation.
Each team consists of six to nine players and a captain. Every team must include:
* At least one female player
* At least one recreational player
A recreational player is someone who has never achieved a 2000 Elo rating in standard, rapid, or blitz chess, or is unrated. Each match is played on six boards, with both a female player and a recreational player included in the lineup.
World Team Rapid Championship
The Rapid Championship will be held from June 17 to 19.
Format
* 12-round Swiss tournament
* Match-point scoring system
* 2 points for a win
* 1 point for a draw
* 0 points for a loss
Time Control
15 minutes plus 10 seconds increment per move. Four rounds will be played daily, beginning at 2:00 PM local time.
World Team Blitz Championship
The Blitz Championship takes place on June 20 and 21.
Format
The event has two stages:
1. Pool-stage round robins
2. 16-team knockout stage
The knockout stage includes:
* Round of 16
* Quarterfinals
* Semifinals
* Final
Time Control
3 minutes plus 2 seconds increment per move. The knockout rounds begin on June 20, while the final is scheduled for June 21.
FIDE World Team Amateur Rapid Chess Cup
The 2026 edition marks the first-ever World Team Amateur Rapid Chess Cup. The tournament is open to players who have never crossed a 2000 Elo rating in any format or are unrated.
Format
* Teams of six players
* Two pools: A and B
* Nine-round Swiss tournament in each pool
Time Control
15 minutes plus 10 seconds increment per move. The event starts on June 18 and concludes with the final stage on June 21.
Prize Fund
The total prize fund for the World Team Rapid and Blitz Championships is an impressive €500,000.
Rapid Championship
* Prize Fund: €310,000
* Winner’s Prize: €110,000
Blitz Championship
* Prize Fund: €190,000
* Winner’s Prize: €75,000
Amateur Cup
* Prize Fund: €25,000
* First Prize: €10,000
Star-Studded Teams to Watch
Several powerhouse teams will battle for the world titles.
WR Chess
The tournament favorites feature:
* Magnus Carlsen
* Fabiano Caruana
* Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
* Wesley So
* Jan-Krzysztof Duda
* Alexandra Kosteniuk
Hexamind
Strong lineup including:
* Levon Aronian
* Anish Giri
* Alireza Firouzja
* Vidit Gujrathi
* Kateryna Lagno
* Volodar Murzin
Team MGD1
The defending Rapid champions return with:
* Arjun Erigaisi
* Nihal Sarin
* Pranav V
* Leon Luke Mendonca
* Harika Dronavalli
Dragon Chilling
Led by:
* Ding Liren
* Wei Yi
* Yu Yangyi
* Ju Wenjun
* Lei Tingjie
Kazchess
Featuring:
* Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
* Alexander Grischuk
* Richard Rapport
* Wang Hao
* Bibisara Assaubayeva
* Kazybek Nogerbek
Uzbekistan
A powerful squad led by:
* Nodirbek Abdusattorov
* Javokhir Sindarov
* Nodirbek Yakubboev
* Shamsiddin Vokhidov
Former World Champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov will serve as captain.
How to Watch
Fans can attend the event at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Hong Kong. Tickets are available through official channels, with both single-day and multi-day passes offered.
Online viewers can follow the action through FIDE’s official broadcast platforms and YouTube channel.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Championships promise exciting team battles, world-class chess, and unforgettable moments. With top stars like Magnus Carlsen, Ding Liren, Fabiano Caruana, Arjun Erigaisi, and many others competing, Hong Kong is set to become the center of the chess world this June.
The addition of the inaugural Amateur Cup makes the event even more special, giving amateur players a chance to compete on the global stage alongside the world’s best.
Photos: FIDE_Chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
