Overview
- Magnus Carlsen beat Fabiano Caruana 3–1 in the semifinals and then edged Nodirbek Abdusattorov 2.5–1.5 in the final to regain the World Blitz crown, two days after winning the Rapid title.
- Arjun Erigaisi captured bronze in the Blitz after a semifinal loss to Abdusattorov, adding to his Rapid bronze for a standout double on the Doha podium.
- Erigaisi’s run included a Round 9 win over Carlsen on time with Black, a result that led to a viral clip of Carlsen slamming the table in frustration.
- Carlsen was later handed a forfeit loss against Haik Martirosyan for pressing the clock before correctly replacing toppled pieces, a decision enforced by arbiters including Chris Bird.
- Erigaisi led the Swiss phase with 15 points to qualify comfortably for knockouts, while public reaction highlighted his composure, drawing praise from Indian industrialist Anand Mahindra.