Overview
- Magnus Carlsen captured his sixth World Rapid crown with 10.5/13, as Russia’s Vladislav Artemiev finished runner-up on 9.5 points and India’s Arjun Erigaisi took third on the same score by tiebreak.
- Alexandra Goryachkina secured the women’s rapid title by defeating China’s Zhu Jiner 1.5–0.5 in a playoff after both finished on 8.5 points, earning a reported €40,000 prize.
- The blitz phase opened with strong Russian showings: Daniil Dubov sits fourth and Alexander Grischuk ninth after Day 1 in the open, while Goryachkina is second in the women’s standings with 8/10 behind leader Eline Rubers on 8.5.
- Twelve-year-old Sergey Sklokin produced a standout upset by beating reigning classical world champion Gukesh Dommaraju in the third round of the blitz event.
- Carlsen’s conduct after his rapid loss to Artemiev drew public criticism from Russian chess officials, and Hans Niemann questioned the use of Buchholz for medal placements, calling for playoff tiebreaks for all podium spots.