FIDE World Rapid & Blitz begins in Doha – the pearl of the chess world

The 2025 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships have officially begun in Doha. This marks the start of one of the most watched and exciting chess events in the world.

The opening ceremony took place at the Sports and Events Complex of Qatar University. Players, officials, and guests filled the playing hall with great enthusiasm.

The ceremony started with a cultural performance by the traditional Qatari music group Farkah. Dressed in national attire and accompanied by drums, the group performed “Today is the happiest day”. The song is traditionally played at the beginning of celebrations in Qatar.

Next, the national anthems of Qatar and FIDE were played. This was followed by an artistic performance showing the battle between black and white chess pieces. The act symbolized the beauty and spirit of the game.

Mohammed Al Mudahka, President of the Qatar Chess Federation, welcomed the guests. He is also Qatar’s first Grandmaster. He wished everyone a pleasant stay in the country, proudly known as the “global capital of sport”.

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich then addressed the audience. He reminded everyone that Doha successfully hosted the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in 2016. He expressed pride in returning to a country that strongly supports chess, including events like the Qatar Masters.

Dvorkovich said that “chess has a home in Qatar”. He also described the country as “the pearl of the chess world”, linking chess to Qatar’s rich heritage.

Arkady thanked the Qatar Chess Federation and Mohammed Al Mudahka for their warm hospitality. He praised the organizers for welcoming the global chess community with open arms.

Speaking to the players, Dvorkovich said the World Rapid and Blitz Championships always create an exciting end to the year. He wished the players fair play, strong games, and memorable experiences in Doha. He concluded by saying,

May the best player win and may the spirit of chess flourish.

The opening ceremony ended with a symbolic first move. Dvorkovich and Al Mudahka made the first moves on a chessboard. They then visited the top boards in both the Open and Women’s sections.

The World Rapid Championship is the first event to be played. Around 300 players from across the world are competing. The Open section features 13 rounds, while the Women’s event has 11 rounds. Five Open rounds and four Women’s rounds are scheduled for the first day.

Fans can follow all the action live on the FIDE YouTube channel. The live broadcast includes expert commentary by GM Maurice Ashley, GM Peter Leko, and IM Jovanka Houska.

The official website for the event is worldrapidandblitz2025.fide.com.