Overview

• Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi agreed to share the 2024 World Blitz Chess Championship title after tying in their final match series, marking the first shared title in over-the-board chess history.
• The decision came during an indefinite sudden-death tiebreak series, with both players opting for a draw rather than continuing to compete for a single winner.
• The move has sparked significant backlash from chess professionals and fans, with criticisms focused on perceived rule-breaking and the undermining of competitive integrity.
• FIDE, the governing body of chess, approved the shared title, though its president Arkady Dvorkovich faced scrutiny for the decision and the lack of clear tiebreak rules.
• Carlsen, who had earlier faced controversy for wearing jeans at the tournament, defended the decision as a reasonable and fair outcome, while Nepomniachtchi agreed to the arrangement without objection.