The final week of the calendar year means only one thing for the chess world: the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships.
As the global elite converges on Doha for the 2025 edition, the Open section once again takes centre stage, promising a week of high-octane chess, narrow margins, and relentless pressure. While a new generation of super-grandmasters continues to rise, the ratings list remains dominated by familiar names players who have shaped modern fast chess and know exactly what it takes to win on this stage.
At the top of the pile, inevitably, is Magnus Carlsen. The Norwegian arrives as the top seed in both Rapid (2824) and Blitz (2881), extending his long-standing dominance in faster formats. With five World Rapid titles and eight World Blitz crowns 12 in total Carlsen stands alone as the most successful player in the history of the championships.
His 2025 season underlines his priorities: victories at the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz in Croatia, the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, and the inaugural Chess Esports World Cup reinforce his reputation as the game’s supreme speed specialist. Yet Doha brings a subtle new variable. Carlsen recently became a father, and how that life change translates to the intense rhythm of a world championship remains one of the tournament’s quieter subplots.
Close behind him is Ian Nepomniachtchi, seeded second in both formats. The Russian grandmaster has been a perennial contender at the World Rapid & Blitz, often finishing just short of gold. His medal collection includes multiple silvers and bronzes, most notably his second-place finish at the 2021 World Rapid in Warsaw, decided on tiebreaks. His breakthrough finally came in 2024, when he shared the World Blitz title with Carlsen. As ever, Nepomniachtchi’s intuitive style and ability to thrive in chaotic positions make him a leading threat in Doha.
Experience is also represented by Levon Aronian, seeded third in rapid and fifth in blitz. Now 43, Aronian continues to defy age and trends, highlighted by his 2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam victory in South Africa, where he defeated Carlsen in the final. A former World Rapid (2009) and Blitz (2010) champion, Aronian’s deep understanding of mixed formats makes him one of the most resilient competitors in the field.
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Fabiano Caruana, seeded fourth in rapid and seventh in blitz, remains a constant presence among the elite. The former world championship challenger and five-time U.S. champion was among the top performers at the 2024 World Rapid & Blitz and continues to deliver consistent results across formats. When Caruana finds momentum, he is notoriously difficult to stop.
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, the 2021 World Blitz champion, returns as one of the most reliable names in fast chess. Seeded fifth in rapid and just outside the blitz top ten, MVL’s extensive résumé includes countless rapid and blitz successes. He arrives in Doha fresh from leading upGrad Mumba Masters at the Global Chess League, sharpening his competitive edge.
Among the slightly younger elite, Vladislav Artemiev stands out as a pure speed specialist. Despite being only 27, he has already built a reputation through Russian championships and elite online events. His bronze at the 2023 World Blitz in Samarkand remains his lone WRB medal so far, but Doha presents a prime opportunity to add to it.
Nodirbek Abdusattorov embodies the challenge posed by the new generation. The 2021 World Rapid champion, who made history at just 17, has since become the standard-bearer of Uzbekistan’s chess rise. Fearless, ambitious, and tactically sharp, Abdusattorov has the tools to challenge the old guard provided he can manage the emotional intensity of the title race.
Creativity enters the picture with Richard Rapport, one of the most original thinkers in elite chess. While he is yet to medal individually at the WRB, his ability to produce decisive games such as his 23-move win over Carlsen at the 2024 WRB Teams makes him a dangerous floater in the standings.
Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Arjun Erigaisi, Daniil Dubov, Wesley So, and Oleksandr Bortnyk round out a formidable top tier. Duda’s pedigree in fast formats, Erigaisi’s emergence as India’s leading rapid force, Dubov’s blitz brilliance, So’s unshakeable solidity, and Bortnyk’s online-to-OTB ambitions together reflect the diversity of threats in Doha.
With over 230 players in each format and a combined Open prize fund of €700,000, the margins will be razor-thin. The favourites are clear on paper, but history suggests that at the World Rapid & Blitz Championships, reputations are tested move by move—and nothing is guaranteed.
