Top Contenders at FIDE World Rapid & Blitz 2025 in Doha
The FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships are back in Doha. Every year, the event brings together the best chess players for a week of high-stakes games. The 2025 edition is no different.
The Open section always attracts the most attention. Magnus Carlsen has dominated it in recent years. This year, top seeds like Carlsen, Nepomniachtchi, Abdusattorov, and Erigaisi face a strong field of challengers.
Here is a closer look at the top contenders in the Open section:
Magnus Carlsen
Carlsen is the top seed in both Rapid (2824) and Blitz (2881). He has won five World Rapid titles and eight World Blitz titles. That makes him the most successful player in fast chess formats.
Carlsen has been focusing more on rapid and blitz than classical chess. In 2025, he won the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz in Croatia and the Chess Esports World Cup.
This year is special for Carlsen as he recently became a father. Lack of sleep might affect him, but he remains a strong favorite.
Ian Nepomniachtchi
Nepomniachtchi is the second seed in Rapid (2762) and Blitz (2801). He has multiple medals in both formats, including a silver in the 2014 World Blitz.
He shared first place in the 2024 World Blitz. Nepomniachtchi remains one of the main contenders in Doha.
Levon Aronian
Aronian is third in Rapid (2756) and fifth in Blitz (2774). He won the World Rapid in 2009 and the World Blitz in 2010.
At 43, he still competes strongly. In 2025, he beat Carlsen to win the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in South Africa.
Fabiano Caruana
Caruana is fourth in Rapid and seventh in Blitz, both with a rating of 2751. He is a former World Championship candidate and five-time US Champion.
Caruana continues to fight for top positions in super-tournaments. In Doha, he will be one of the strongest challengers.
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (MVL)
MVL is fifth in Rapid (2730) and 11th in Blitz (2745). He won the World Blitz title in 2021 in Warsaw.
MVL recently played in the Global Chess League in Mumbai and continues to be a consistent force in fast chess.
Vladislav Artemiev
At just 27, Artemiev has already made his mark in elite chess. He specializes in rapid and blitz formats.
In 2023, he finished third in the World Blitz in Samarkand. In Doha, he aims to win his first World Rapid or Blitz medal.
Nodirbek Abdusattorov
Abdusattorov first gained fame at the 2019 World Rapid & Blitz in Moscow. He was the youngest World Rapid Champion in 2021 at 17 years old.
Now a top star from Uzbekistan, he is ambitious and ready to challenge the older generation in Doha.
Richard Rapport
Rapport is known for his creative and entertaining play. In 2024, he defeated Carlsen in just 23 moves during the WRB Teams event.
He regularly competes in top invitational events and always delivers exciting games.
Jan-Krzysztof Duda
Duda is ninth in Rapid (2711) and eighth in Blitz (2750). He is a former World Cup winner and European Blitz Champion.
Duda is known for his fast and dangerous play in rapid and blitz events.
Arjun Erigaisi
India’s top-rated player in classical chess, Erigaisi is eighth in Rapid (2714) and ninth in Blitz (2749).
In 2025, he won multiple Freestyle Friday events on Chess.com and was part of India’s gold-medal-winning team at the World Rapid Team Championship.
Daniil Dubov
Dubov is third in Blitz (2795) and just outside the top ten in Rapid. He was World Rapid Champion in 2018.
Dubov is known for his sharp thinking and entertaining games. He also plays in online elite events and esports competitions.
Wesley So
So is fourth in Blitz (2790) and among the top 20 in Rapid. He has a long history of success in rapid and blitz formats.
In 2025, he won the Sinquefield Cup, showing his strength under pressure.
Oleksandr Bortnyk
Bortnyk completes the Blitz top ten with a rating of 2748. He has won multiple online titles and is dangerous in fast chess.
While he has less experience in top over-the-board events, his underdog status could give him an edge in Doha.
The Open section in Doha gathers over 230 players in Rapid and Blitz. The combined prize fund is €700,000. Among all these strong players, the thirteen mentioned above are the most likely to compete for the top spots.
Photos: Michal Walusza, FIDE_Chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
