Overview
- Play runs December 26–30 at Qatar University Sports and Events Complex, with Rapid underway and Blitz scheduled for December 29–30.
- Rapid features 13 Swiss rounds in the Open (15+10) and 11 in the Women’s; Blitz uses a 19‑round Swiss at 3+2 followed by a four‑player knockout final in each section.
- Magnus Carlsen competes as top seed and world number one in rapid and blitz, saying he is motivated to “give it my all,” and he drew white in Rapid and black in Blitz.
- FIDE and organizers report a prize fund exceeding €1,000,000 and large fields, including 251 players in Open Rapid, 254 in Open Blitz, and 142 across the Women’s events.
- FIDE is streaming the championships live on its official YouTube and Twitch channels, with Hindustan Times noting YouTube as the platform available in India.