Astana, Kazakhstan – August 5, 2024
The final day of the 2024 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships saw intense competition and unexpected twists, culminating in Al-Ain ACMG UAE securing the World Rapid Team Championship title. This victory followed a series of closely fought matches and significant upsets that defined the event.
Round 9 Highlights:
MGD1, last year’s bronze medalists, ended the day strong by dethroning Chessy from the top spot and placing themselves among the top four teams with 12 match points. A crucial draw on the non-professional board and wins from Al-Ain’s Parham Maghsoodloo and Dmitry Andreikin secured their lead despite Dubov’s endgame loss to Erigaisi (ChessBase) (International Chess Federation).
Round 10 Highlights:
Chessy suffered a surprising defeat to GMHans.com, significantly diminishing their chances of winning the title. Vidit Gujrathi’s victory was overshadowed by subsequent losses on other boards, leading to a collapse. Meanwhile, Al-Ain triumphed over Astana-1 with a decisive 5:1 score, and Decade China continued their strong performance by defeating Royal Chess 5:1, keeping them in second place (International Chess Federation) (International Chess Federation).
Round 11 Highlights:
Al-Ain faced GMHans.com, managing a narrow 3.5:2.5 victory despite Maghsoodloo’s time pressure issues. WR Chess, led by Magnus Carlsen, secured a win against Ashdod, while Decade China dominated GMs Kazakhstan, maintaining their pursuit of the top spot (International Chess Federation) (International Chess Federation).
Final Round:
In the ultimate round, Al-Ain faced a challenging match against Theme International Trading but managed to secure the championship. Maghsoodloo’s first loss of the tournament was a setback, but the team’s overall performance ensured their victory. Decade China finished strong, but it wasn’t enough to overtake Al-Ain. WR Chess’s consistent performance, including Carlsen’s strategic prowess, earned them third place (International Chess Federation) (International Chess Federation).
Blitz Championship:
The Blitz Championship saw WR Chess and GMHans.com dominate until their critical match, where WR Chess emerged victorious. Al-Ain also performed well, securing second place in Pool B behind MGD1. Decade China and Chessy led their respective pools, showcasing remarkable skill and strategic play throughout the event (International Chess Federation).
The 2024 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships highlighted the intense competitive spirit and high skill level of participating teams, with Al-Ain ACMG UAE emerging as the standout champions of the rapid format.
For detailed results and match breakdowns, visit the official FIDE website.