Doha witnessed a fitting finale to the 2025 FIDE World Rapid Championship as two of modern chess’s most formidable figures — Magnus Carlsen and Aleksandra Goryachkina — emerged with the top honours in the Open and Women’s categories respectively.
In the Open section, Magnus Carlsen once again underlined his mastery of rapid chess, clinching his sixth World Rapid title with a dominant score of 10.5 points from 13 rounds. After an uncharacteristic stumble on the second day, the Norwegian superstar responded in emphatic fashion on the final day, reeling off three consecutive victories to pull clear of the chasing pack. Entering the last round with a one-point cushion, Carlsen played out a quick draw to seal yet another global crown, reinforcing his reputation as the most consistent rapid player of his generation.
Behind him, the battle for the remaining medals was fiercely contested. Four players finished tied on 9.5 points, with Vladislav Artemiev claiming silver on tiebreaks and India’s Arjun Erigaisi securing a prestigious bronze, marking another milestone in his rise at the elite level.
The Women’s World Rapid Championship delivered its own share of drama. Aleksandra Goryachkina, Zhu Jiner and defending champion Humpy Koneru were locked together at the top heading into the final round. While Zhu and Goryachkina held steady with draws, Koneru missed a golden opportunity to take outright first after letting a winning endgame slip in time trouble.
Tournament regulations meant only the top two players on tiebreaks advanced to the playoff, leaving Koneru narrowly outside and settling for bronze. The title was decided in a blitz playoff between Goryachkina and Zhu, where the Russian grandmaster struck decisively. Goryachkina won the opening blitz game and then calmly drew the second to secure her maiden World Rapid title — a landmark achievement following her appearance as the Women’s World Championship challenger in classical chess in 2020.
Zhu Jiner, who had led the standings for much of the tournament, finished with a well-earned silver, while Koneru added another world medal to her illustrious career, a year after winning gold in New York.
With the rapid champions crowned, attention now turns to the fastest format of all. The World Blitz Championship begins on Monday, December 29, promising two more days of high-octane chess as the world’s elite vie for the final titles of the year in Doha.
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