Team Chess Takes Center Stage at FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships

The chess world is currently focused on a dynamic and fast-paced competition: the third edition of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships for teams. This event brings a unique format to the forefront, challenging established norms of team composition and tournament structure.

Unlike traditional national team events, these championships allow teams to be assembled with considerable flexibility. However, FIDE imposes specific requirements designed to promote inclusivity and diversity. Each team match, played across six boards, must mandatorily include at least one female player and one player without a FIDE rating. This interesting blend ensures that established professionals compete alongside developing or less-known talent, often leading to unpredictable and engaging board battles.

The tournament unfolds in two distinct phases. The initial three days are dedicated to the Rapid Chess World Championship, contested over twelve rounds using the robust Swiss system. This format allows a large field of teams to compete and vie for the top positions before transitioning to the ultimate test of speed and nerve.

Following the rapid play, the event shifts gear dramatically for the final two days: the Blitz World Championship. The blitz segment begins with a preliminary round involving group stages, setting the field for the high-stakes knockout finals. This transition from a cumulative points system to sudden-death matches injects intense drama and requires a completely different strategic and psychological approach from the competing teams.

Among the many ambitious teams participating, the squad sponsored by Wadim Rosenstein, known as the **WR team**, has arrived with significant expectations. Their lineup is particularly formidable, featuring no less than six super grandmasters. Their collective Elo rating makes them the clear favourites heading into the rapid phase, and their performance will be closely watched as the tournament progresses.

The event promises exciting chess and strategic team play under extreme time pressure. With its distinctive format and mandatory inclusion rules, the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championship stands as a refreshing and challenging spectacle in the international chess calendar.