Dragon Chilling Win FIDE World Team Blitz Championship 2026
China’s Dragon Chilling completed a historic double by winning the FIDE World Team Blitz Chess Championship 2026 in Hong Kong.
After already winning the Rapid title earlier in the week, Dragon Chilling defeated Endgame.AI in the Blitz final to become champions once again. Their incredible performance earned them the €75,000 first prize from the total €190,000 blitz prize fund. The final day at Queen Elizabeth Stadium was full of excitement. Fans witnessed shocking upsets, tense tie-breaks, dramatic comebacks, and thrilling blitz chess battles.
Dragon Chilling had a tough journey to the title. They survived a difficult quarterfinal against Mr Birdie and Friends, defeated Uzbekistan in the semifinals, and then dominated Endgame.AI in the final. This victory also made history as Dragon Chilling became the first Chinese team to win the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Championship event.
Final Standings – FIDE World Team Blitz Championship 2026
1st – Dragon Chilling (€75,000)
2nd – Endgame.AI (€50,000)
3rd – Uzbekistan (€30,000)
4th – Hexamind (€20,000)
5th – WR Chess (€15,000)
Anand Praises Hong Kong
During the closing ceremony, former World Champion and FIDE Deputy President Viswanathan Anand praised Hong Kong for hosting the event successfully. He said Hong Kong gave the tournament a stage worthy of the world’s best chess players.
Anand also highlighted that chess belongs to everyone — from professionals to schools, clubs, families, and local communities. Geoffrey Kao, Honorary President of the Hong Kong China Chess Federation, said the event proved that Hong Kong is not only a business hub but also an important destination for international chess.
Uzbekistan Shock WR Chess
One of the biggest surprises of the tournament came in the quarterfinals. Uzbekistan defeated tournament favourites WR Chess by a narrow margin. Magnus Carlsen lost an important game to Nodirbek Abdusattorov, helping Uzbekistan reach the semifinals.
WR Chess, despite having stars like Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Praggnanandhaa R, and Arjun Erigaisi, finished only in fifth place. Carlsen suffered three defeats on the final day, which added to WR Chess’ disappointing finish.
Endgame.AI Impress in Hong Kong
Endgame.AI also had a fantastic tournament. Led by Hans Niemann, they defeated Team MGD1 in the quarterfinals and later overcame Hexamind in a tense semifinal clash.
Their strong performance helped them secure second place and €50,000 in prize money.
Dragon Chilling Dominate the Final
The final started perfectly for Dragon Chilling. Former World Champion Ding Liren defeated Hans Niemann on board one and gave his team early momentum. Dragon Chilling won the first match 5-1 and stayed in complete control.
In the second match, Ju Wenjun, Wei Yi, Lu Shanglei, and Wang Zihao scored important victories, while Yu Yangyi secured a draw against Alexey Sarana. With another dominant performance, Dragon Chilling completed a golden double in Hong Kong by winning both the Rapid and Blitz titles.
After the victory, team captain Ni Hua said:
We prepared for a long time and played as a family; we are a family.
Golden Stars Win Amateur Rapid Chess Cup
The inaugural FIDE World Team Amateur Rapid Chess Cup also ended dramatically. Golden Stars from Vietnam won the title after defeating Bosoo Noyon in an Armageddon playoff. The final match ended in a draw, forcing an Armageddon decider on board one.
Bosoo Noyon chose the black pieces with less time on the clock, but their top player lost the game, giving Golden Stars the championship. Team captain That Nhu Tung said the team came to Hong Kong “just for fun” and hoped the victory would help chess grow even more in Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong Young Dragons secured bronze after defeating Team Sky.
About the Tournament
The FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships started in 2023 and quickly became one of the most exciting team chess events in the world.
The tournament features elite grandmasters, rising talents, and amateur players competing together. The 2026 edition was held in Hong Kong for the first time, marking the event’s debut in East Asia.
The tournament took place from June 17 to June 21 and featured both Rapid and Blitz competitions. The total prize fund for the World Team Rapid and Blitz Championship was €500,000, while the Amateur Cup offered €25,000 in prizes.
Photos: Michal Walusza
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
