FIDE WRBTC 2025: Hexamind and MGD1 Tie for First After Day Two Drama

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Day two of the FIDE WRBTC 2025 was full of surprises. Underdogs stepped up, favorites stumbled, and two teams now sit at the top.

Hexamind and Team MGD1 are tied in first place with 13 match points each. Just behind them are Freedom and Uzbekistan, both on 12 points. Germany and Friends also impressed, while tournament favorites WR Chess fell to sixth after two shocking defeats.

Day Two: Intense Battles and Big Moments

The pressure increased as four more rounds were played. The ceremonial first move was made by Lord Dafydd Wigley, a respected British politician and chess supporter.

MGD1 had a strong day, winning two matches and drawing one. Their amateur player Atharvaa P Tayade (rated 1952) was a standout, winning all 8 of his games so far.

After drawing with Freedom in round five, MGD1 beat WR Chess 4:2 in round six. Then they edged past Germany and Friends 3.5:2.5 in round seven. But in the final round, they lost to Hexamind, who surged to the top with a 4:2 win.

Key Highlights from Rounds 5 to 8

Round 5:

  • MGD1 and Freedom drew 3:3.

  • Vishy Anand beat Arjun Erigaisi, but MGD1’s Atharvaa Tayade evened the score.

  • WR Chess beat Malcolm’s Mates 3.5:2.5, with wins from Firouzja and Nakamura.

  • Gelfand blundered under pressure, giving Rishon LeZion a win over KazChess.

  • Hexamind drew with Uzbekistan, as Aronian lost to Abdusattorov.

Round 6:

  • A moment of silence was held after the tragic Air India crash.

  • MGD1 beat WR Chess 4:2, with key wins from David Anton and Atharvaa Tayade.

  • Germany and Friends stunned Freedom 3.5:2.5.

  • Malcolm’s Mates crushed Hungary 5.5:0.5.

  • Hexamind defeated Turkish Airlines 4:2, with Aronian outplaying 11-year-old prodigy Faustino Oro.

Round 7:

  • MGD1 beat Germany and Friends 3.5:2.5.

  • Erigaisi lost to Keymer, but lower boards saved MGD1 again.

  • WR lost again — this time to Hexamind — with Firouzja scoring their only win.

  • Malcolm’s Mates drew with Uzbekistan 3:3.

  • Freedom bounced back, beating Hetman Katowice 4.5:1.5.

Round 8:

  • Hexamind defeated MGD1 4:2 to tie at the top.

  • Giri and Anton drew early.

  • Tayade won again, making it 8/8.

  • Dominguez beat Harikrishna, Divya Deshmukh beat Tsolakidou, and Murzin beat Erigaisi in a thrilling finish.

  • Freedom crushed KazChess 5:1, with only Rapport scoring for the Kazakhs.

  • WR beat Barys.kz 4.5:1.5 but saw Duda lose to lower-rated Edgar Mamedov.

  • A 112-move marathon between Shirov and Abdusattorov ended in a draw.

What’s Next?

The final four rounds of the rapid format will be played on Friday, June 13, starting at 2 PM London time. Stay tuned for more action as teams fight for the top prize in London.

About the Event:

  • The third FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships is being held in London from June 10–16, 2025.

  • The event is open to teams worldwide — clubs, federations, or mixed groups.

  • 52 teams are competing in the Rapid section.

  • The total prize pool is €500,000 — with €310,000 for Rapid and €190,000 for Blitz.

Photos: Rafal Oleksiewicz, FIDE_chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS

 

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