Alexander Grischuk says that freestyle chess removes this “this idiotic 6 hours preparation for the game.” He adds, “Classical is my least preferred format, it is either blitz, rapid of freestyle”.

Alexander Grischuk about Grenke and Freestyle

More from the UK: Ameet Ghasi is England’s newest and OLDEST to qualify as chess grandmaster / Stroud Rapid Play Chess 2024

Live games of the UK Blitz Chess Championships 2024 brought to you in cooperation with Lichess:

List of participants

Follow the games of the Rafael Vaganian Blitz Cup LIVE:

List of participants Rafael Vaganian Blitz Cup

Other Dov Porat events: Dov Porat Memorial 2024 – Rapid Group A

Live games of Dov Porat Memorial 2024 Blitz brought to yo in cooperation with Lichess.

Participants Dov Porat Memorial 2024 Blitz

Final rankings Brazilian Rapid Chess Championship 2024

Starting players in Campeonato Nacional Absoluto de Ajedrez Blitz 2024

For you, Magnus, it was annoying. We had lots of fun ;)

After missing the podium in the Rapid Championship, Magnus Carlsen played much better in the Blitz event, holding the top position from the very beginning and securing the gold medal with 17/21 points.

This is Carlsen’s fourth world blitz title, having previously won in Moscow 2009, Dubai 2014 and Riyadh 2017.

Half a point behind the winner is Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Poland), who has had a powerful run of 8 consecutive victories in the mid-tournament.

Hikaru Nakamura (USA) took the bronze medal with 14,5 points, two points behind Duda.

Duda, Carlsen and Nakamura (photo by Lennart Ootes)

Magnus Carlsen said: “I am just relieved. Today was a very tough day. I was in front but being chased, and this is never easy. Yesterday the score was good, and the play was maybe not as great, but I feel I am usually best against the best players. Today I played very well and needed every single half point to win.”

Kateryna Lagno (Russia) maintained the good form from the first day of the Championship and emerged clear winner of the Women’s section with 13,5/17 points. This is her second gold medal, the first was won in 2010.

Sarasadat Khademalsharieh (Iran) took the silver medal with 13 points. Just like yesterday, she started the day with a loss, but then finished superbly with 4,5 points in the last five rounds.

Lei Tingjie (China) claimed the bronze medal with 12,5 points, despite the last round loss to her compatriot Tan Zhongyi. She was fortunate that the main competitor Valentina Gunina was also defeated.

Khademalsharieh, Lagno and Tingjie (photo by Lennart Ootes)

Kateryna Lagno stated: “I am very happy, of course. It is interesting that I didn’t lose a single game. Of course I was lucky in some games, but managed to hold them, and I think this is the first time in my life when I did not lose a single game in a blitz tournament.”

The 2nd King Salman World Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships were held from 26-30th December in St.Petersburg, Russia.

The 18th European Youth Rapid&Blitz Championships are open to all players from European Chess Federations. Each ECU member federation can register an unlimited number of players that meet the age requirements of respective sections.

The entry form should be filled in by the national federation on the official website of the championship before the registration deadline – 4th June 2018.

The playing venue of the events will be Continental Hotel, one of the official hotels of the event, together with Ramada Hotel and Impero Hotel. All the players and any kind of accompanying persons are invited to stay in the official hotels of the Championship.

The event consist of 4 separate competitions:

(1) INDIVIDUAL EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP – RAPID

– 9 rounds according to the Swiss System, 15 minutes + 10 sec per player

– Categories: boys and girls U8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18

(2) TEAM EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP – RAPID

– Two categories: U12 and U18

– Teams are composed of 4 players of the same federation

– 7 rounds played according to the Swiss System, 10 minutes + 5 sec per player

(3) INDIVIDUAL EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP – BLITZ

– Three categories: under 10, under 14 and under 18, separately for boys and girls

– 9 rounds played according to the Swiss System, 3 minutes + 2 sec per player

(4) EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP IN SOLVING CHESS PROBLEMS  

– Three categories: U10, U14 and U18, separately for boys and girls

If some of the categories lack the needed number of participants, the organizer has the right to merge two categories or change the competition system.

Top 3 ranked players of each category will be awarded with cups and medals, together with special chess prizes and gifts.

The event will be played according to the ECU Tournament regulations published on 1st of January 2018, which includes Anti-Cheating rules.

Besides the chess activities, ECU and FIDE seminars for trainers and for chess in schools will be organized during the championship.

Official Website of the Championship

Official regulations of the European Youth Rapid&Blitz Championships 2018 can be downloaded bellow or here.

Official Regulations European Youth Rapid&Blitz Chess Championships 2018

Contact Information:
Tournament office
e-mail: ecuoradea2018@yahoo.com

Tournament Director:
IO Elena Cristian +40 723 309 101

Romanian Chess Federation/Constantin Ionescu, General Secretary:
romanianchessfederation@yahoo.com

There is no limit of participants per federation in each of the categories ‐ U8, U10, and U12 (boys and girls). A player must not reach his/her 8th, 10th, 12th birthday, respectively, before 1 January 2018.

The tournaments are based on Swiss System with nine rounds. If a player does not have an existing FIDE rapid or blitz rating, then his/her standard rating will be used, if applicable.

The playing time for the Rapid Championships is 10 minutes with an increment of 5 seconds per move starting with white’s first move.
The playing time for the Blitz Championships is 5 minutes with an increment of 2 seconds per move starting with white’s first move.

The registration deadline is extended to 15 May 2018. A player may apply for the Championships individually or via a National Federation.

The Entrance Fee for both Championships is 70 EUR according to FIDE Financial Regulations. The Entrance Fee for each Championship is 35 EUR.

Each player and each accompanying official/person shall pay the Registration Fee (30 EUR) at the moment of their registration. This Registration Fee is compulsory and confirms the player’s participation in the Championship. This payment includes official accreditation, identification, badges and organization costs.

The Champions of the previous World Rapid and Blitz Cadet Championships (2017) shall have the personal right to participate in the World Rapid and Blitz Cadet Championships of the corresponding age category or a higher age category, if the above age requirements are met. These players are subject to free accommodation (lodging and breakfast) and waiver of the Registration Fee. Such players shall also be treated as invited players and have to be registered by their National Federations.
Invited players shall pay the Entrance Fee according to FIDE Financial Regulations.

Vivid video at the closing ceremony of the 2017 World Cadets Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships

Commission-free payments by credit cards VISA, MASTERCARD, Maestro are also accepted.
For more information about the payments, please visit http://openchess.by/eurominsk2017/kadetyoplata/

Prizes:
Each participant will receive the Certificate of Participation. Special prizes may be awarded.
Prizes for Players of each of the 12 Groups (Open and Girls)
I Title of World Champion (for respective event) + Cup + Medal
II Title of Vice World Champion (for respective event) + Cup + Medal
III Cup + Bronze Medal

Contact:
General Secretary:
Maria Tamkovich
Mobile: (+ 375) 29 2391088
Email: infofide@tut.by

On 23 June 2018 at 15.30, there will be a guided city tour for players and accompanying persons. The price is 20 EUR for adults / 10 EUR for children.