The Stage Is Set: 60 Teams Ready for the 2025 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Team Championships in London

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The 2025 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Team Championships is shaping up to be the biggest event yet!

Registration is now closed, and nearly 60 teams are confirmed to compete in London. That’s a big jump from the 38 teams in 2024 and 36 in the first edition in 2023.

This tournament brings together top grandmasters, young stars, and chess lovers from around the world. Team ratings range from 1747 to 2695, showing the wide range of skill levels. It’s a real celebration of the global chess community!

Top Teams to Watch

WR Chess returns as the team to beat. They won the Blitz title in 2024 and the Rapid title in 2023. This year, their star-studded lineup includes:

  • Alireza Firouzja

  • Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

  • Hikaru Nakamura

  • Wesley So (back from 2023)

  • Jan-Krzysztof Duda

  • Former Women’s World Champions Hou Yifan and Alexandra Kosteniuk

Even without Magnus Carlsen this time, WR Chess is packed with power and talent.

Hexamind Chess Team is ranked second. This experienced squad includes:

  • Levon Aronian

  • Leinier Dominguez Perez

  • Vladimir Kramnik

  • Peter Svidler

  • Indian stars Vidit Gujrathi and Divya Deshmukh

Their mix of seasoned veterans and young talent gives them a strong shot at the title.

Al-Ain ACMG UAE, the 2024 Rapid champions, are back to defend their crown. Their lineup features:

  • Vladislav Artemiev

  • Daniil Dubov

  • Dmitry Andreikin

  • Volodar Murzin

  • Kateryna Lagno

  • Wafiya Darvish al-Maamari

One major change: Parham Maghsoodloo has switched teams and now plays for KazChess (ranked fourth), joining Richard Rapport and Alexander Grischuk.

What makes this event exciting is the team freedom. Unlike the Chess Olympiad, teams aren’t limited to national federations. Clubs, cities, universities, and companies can all form teams. This creates fun surprises, unexpected alliances, and thrilling rivalries.

Freedom, ranked fifth, is another fan-favorite. It’s led by none other than Viswanathan Anand, five-time World Champion. His teammates include:

  • Le Quang Liem

  • Samuel Sevian

  • Haik Martirosyan

  • Anna Muzychuk

  • Sarbartho Mani

  • Alexey Sarana

  • Rauf Mamedov

  • Teodora Injac (fresh off her 2025 European Women’s Championship win)

Other big names in action include:

  • Arjun Erigaisi

  • Nodirbek Abdusattorov

  • Vincent Keymer

With so many stars playing, fans can expect fast-paced games and intense blitz battles.

Full team list is available on the 2025 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Team Championships official website.

Tournament Details

  • Dates: June 10–16, 2025

  • Location: Novotel London West, London

  • Open To: Clubs, companies, cities, federations, and more

  • Team Size: 6 to 9 players

  • Requirements: At least one female and one recreational (under 2000 rating or unrated) player per team

Format

Rapid Tournament

  • Dates: June 11–13

  • Format: 12-round Swiss

  • Time Control: 15 minutes + 10 seconds per move

Blitz Tournament

  • Dates: June 14–15

  • Format: Pool stage + knockout

  • Time Control: 3 minutes + 2 seconds per move

Prize Fund

This year’s championship features a record prize pool of €500,000:

  • €310,000 for Rapid

  • €190,000 for Blitz

There will also be special prizes for:

  • Best female team

  • Best mixed-gender team

  • Top recreational players

To learn more, visit the official website: worldrapidblitzteams2025.fide.com

Photos: FIDE_chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS

 

Warrior Chess Academy


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