GM Magnus Carlsen is officially among the 360 players registered for the 2025 World Rapid & Blitz Championship, to be held in Doha, Qatar, on December 26-30, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) announced Thursday.
FIDE said 233 players are registered for the Blitz, while 230 are signed up for the Rapid. However, the list of participants is not yet updated with Carlsen’s name, suggesting that the five-time rapid and seven-time blitz world champion finalized his decision last minute.
It’s a star-studded field where Carlsen is joined by his co-world champion, GM Ian Nepomniachtchi. Also competing is GM Volodar Murzin, who sensationally became the world rapid champion last year.
Also among the top contenders are Classical World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, along with GMs Fabiano Caruana, Arjun Erigaisi, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, Daniil Dubov, Wesley So, Levon Aronian, Vincent Keymer, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Oleksandr Bortnyk, Anish Giri, and Jan-Krzysztof Duda.
Notable absentees from this list include GMs Hikaru Nakamura, Alireza Firouzja, Hans Niemann, Ding Liren, Wei Yi, and Vladimir Fedoseev.
2025 World Blitz Championship Top 20 Participants
| # | Title | Name | FED | Rating | Born |
| 1 | GM | Magnus Carlsen | 2881 | 1990 | |
| 2 | GM | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 2801 | 1990 | |
| 3 | GM | Daniil Dubov | 2795 | 1996 | |
| 4 | GM | Wesley So | 2790 | 1993 | |
| 5 | GM | Levon Aronian | 2774 | 1982 | |
| 6 | GM | Nodirbek Abdusattorov | 2768 | 2004 | |
| 7 | GM | Oleksandr Bortnyk | 2754 | 1996 | |
| 8 | GM | Fabiano Caruana | 2751 | 1992 | |
| 9 | GM | Jan-Krzysztof Duda | 2750 | 1998 | |
| 10 | GM | Arjun Erigaisi | 2749 | 2003 | |
| 11 | GM | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 2746 | 1990 | |
| 12 | GM | Vladislav Artemiev | 2732 | 1998 | |
| 13 | GM | Samuel Sevian | 2726 | 2000 | |
| 14 | GM | Bu Xiangzhi | 2719 | 1985 | |
| 15 | GM | Dmitry Andreikin | 2714 | 1990 | |
| 16 | GM | Yu Yangyi | 2706 | 1994 | |
| 17 | GM | Liem Le | 2703 | 1991 | |
| 18 | GM | Alexey Sarana | 2703 | 2000 | |
| 19 | GM | Anish Giri | 2701 | 1994 | |
| 20 | GM | Parham Maghsoodloo | 2700 | 2000 |
2025 World Rapid Championship Top 20 Participants
| # | Title | Name | FED | Rating | Born |
| 1 | GM | Magnus Carlsen | 2824 | 1990 | |
| 2 | GM | Ian Nepomniachtchi | 2762 | 1990 | |
| 3 | GM | Levon Aronian | 2756 | 1982 | |
| 4 | GM | Fabiano Caruana | 2751 | 1992 | |
| 5 | GM | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 2741 | 1990 | |
| 6 | GM | Vladislav Artemiev | 2724 | 1998 | |
| 7 | GM | Nodirbek Abdusattorov | 2717 | 2004 | |
| 8 | GM | Richard Rapport | 2716 | 1996 | |
| 9 | GM | Jan-Krzysztof Duda | 2711 | 1998 | |
| 10 | GM | Arjun Erigaisi | 2708 | 2003 | |
| 11 | GM | Leinier Dominguez | 2703 | 1983 | |
| 12 | GM | Wesley So | 2702 | 1993 | |
| 13 | GM | Shakhriyar Mamedyarov | 2701 | 1985 | |
| 14 | GM | Yu Yangyi | 2696 | 1994 | |
| 15 | GM | Gukesh Dommaraju | 2692 | 2006 | |
| 16 | GM | Daniil Dubov | 2690 | 1996 | |
| 17 | GM | Javokhir Sindarov | 2688 | 2005 | |
| 18 | GM | Nihal Sarin | 2688 | 2004 | |
| 19 | GM | Anish Giri | 2685 | 1994 | |
| 20 | GM | Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu | 2679 | 2005 |
The FIDE Women’s Rapid & Blitz also sees the best players competing in a field of 130 players. Women’s Classical World Champion Ju Wenjun heads both events, together with GMs Zhu Jiner, Lei Tingjie, Tan Zhongyi, Aleksandra Goryachkina, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Koneru Humpy, Anna Muzychuk, Mariya Muzychuk, Divya Deshmukh, and Harika Dronavalli.
2025 Women’s World Rapid Championship Top 20 Participants
| # | Title | Name | FED | Rating | Born |
| 1 | GM | Ju Wenjun | 2530 | 1991 | |
| 2 | GM | Tan Zhongyi | 2507 | 1991 | |
| 3 | GM | Aleksandra Goryachkina | 2505 | 1998 | |
| 4 | GM | Lei Tingjie | 2496 | 1997 | |
| 5 | GM | Bibisara Assaubayeva | 2461 | 2004 | |
| 6 | GM | Kateryna Lagno | 2452 | 1989 | |
| 7 | GM | Alexandra Kosteniuk | 2450 | 1984 | |
| 8 | GM | Koneru Humpy | 2448 | 1987 | |
| 9 | GM | Zhu Jiner | 2435 | 2002 | |
| 10 | GM | Harika Dronavalli | 2435 | 1991 | |
| 11 | GM | Zhao Xue | 2430 | 1985 | |
| 12 | GM | Nana Dzagnidze | 2425 | 1987 | |
| 13 | GM | Mariya Muzychuk | 2421 | 1992 | |
| 14 | GM | Divya Deshmukh | 2419 | 2005 | |
| 15 | GM | Anna Muzychuk | 2398 | 1990 | |
| 16 | IM | Meruert Kamalidenova | 2398 | 2005 | |
| 17 | IM | Eline Roebers | 2392 | 2006 | |
| 18 | IM | Irina Bulmaga | 2388 | 1993 | |
| 19 | GM | Antoaneta Stefanova | 2379 | 1979 | |
| 20 | WGM | Afruza Khamdamova | 2378 | 2004 |
2025 Women’s World Blitz Championship Top 20 Participants
| # | Title | Name | FED. | Title | Rating | Born |
| 1 | GM | Ju Wenjun | GM | 2489 | 1991 | |
| 2 | GM | Lei Tingjie | GM | 2478 | 1997 | |
| 3 | GM | Tan Zhongyi | GM | 2457 | 1991 | |
| 4 | GM | Kateryna Lagno | GM | 2448 | 1989 | |
| 5 | GM | Aleksandra Goryachkina | GM | 2439 | 1998 | |
| 6 | GM | Bibisara Assaubayeva | GM | 2439 | 2004 | |
| 7 | GM | Koneru Humpy | GM | 2430 | 1987 | |
| 8 | GM | Alexandra Kosteniuk | GM | 2428 | 1984 | |
| 9 | GM | Zhu Jiner | GM | 2425 | 2002 | |
| 10 | IM | Leya Garifullina | IM | 2407 | 2004 | |
| 11 | GM | Vaishali Rameshbababu | GM | 2401 | 2001 | |
| 12 | IM | Polina Shuvalova | IM | 2399 | 2001 | |
| 13 | GM | Anna Muzychuk | GM | 2397 | 1990 | |
| 14 | GM | Harika Dronavalli | GM | 2389 | 1991 | |
| 15 | GM | Divya Deshmukh | GM | 2388 | 2005 | |
| 16 | GM | Zhao Xue | GM | 2383 | 1985 | |
| 17 | GM | Nana Dzagnidze | GM | 2378 | 1987 | |
| 18 | IM | Eline Roebers | IM | 2377 | 2006 | |
| 19 | IM | Song Yuxin | IM | 2373 | 2005 | |
| 20 | GM | Mariya Muzychuk | GM | 2373 | 1992 |
“The field is tremendously strong, and it is going to be a real chess feast. Once again, FIDE managed to gather nearly all the world’s best players, and I am looking forward to a great sportive drama, fascinated both in my FIDE capacity, and as a life-time chess fan,” said FIDE CEO GM Emil Sutovsky.
“The lineup shows the immense strength and magnetism of the World Rapid & Blitz,” FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said, adding: “We are pleased to see so many strong players in both the Open and the Women’s competition confirming they will take part. The FIDE World Rapid & Blitz is traditionally one of the most exciting and most watched chess events in the year, and we expect that tradition to continue.”
Carlsen announced his participation with his trademark humor:
9 years ago I left the world rapid and blitz in Doha with two near misses and some viral rage moments. This year I hope to improve on the former, but regardless I promise to deliver on the latter.
Also, I’ll be grinding the gym to fit into tighter jeans than last time.
— Magnus Carlsen (@MagnusCarlsen) November 20, 2025
For FIDE, securing Carlsen’s participation is no small victory. Just a year ago, his relationship with the governing body appeared broken beyond repair. The conflict stemmed from his and Freestyle Chess co-founder Jan-Henric Buettner’s conflict with FIDE, regarding the 2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour, and their wish to crown a “Freestyle Chess World Champion.”
His frustrations peaked at the 2024 World Rapid Championship, where he was fined $200 for wearing jeans. The scandal was dubbed “Jeansgate” and made headlines worldwide. Carlsen later auctioned his jeans off to charity for $36,000 after a bidding war.
After withdrawing from the rapid event, he declared himself “at full war with FIDE,” but eventually made a U-turn to play the Blitz, agreeing to share the title with Nepomniachtchi in another major controversy that made headlines globally.
In February, he told Norwegian broadcaster TV 2 that he considered participation in future FIDE events “completely out of the question.” In October, however, he told Take Take Take that his position had shifted “from a clear no to a maybe.”
Earlier this week, he told NRK that a decision had been made following “constructive conversations with the organizers,” though he did not want to reveal whether he would play.
Speaking to VG, he admitted it had been a difficult decision now that his priorities have changed after becoming a father. “Right now, I am first and foremost a father. Then I play chess once in a while, and then I have in a way some other things going as well.”
Right now, I am first and foremost a father. Then I play chess once in a while, and then I have in a way some other things going as well.
—Magnus Carlsen
Before travelling to Doha, Carlsen is heading to South Africa to play in the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Final, on December 8-11. “I will just try to go and perform well. Then we’ll see from next year. I feel there’s already too many tournaments scheduled,” he told VG.
Doha returns as host nine years after last staging the event. The rapid format remains unchanged: 13 rounds in the Open and 11 in the Women’s. In Blitz, there are some notable changes, covered by Chess.com earlier this year.
- Open Blitz: 19 rounds (up from 13)
- Women’s Blitz: 15 rounds (up from 11)
- Knockout Phase: Only the top four players advance to the Semifinals (down from eight last year)
Hosted at the Sports and Events Complex at Qatar University, the events have a combined prize fund of €1 million, with the winner of each Open event cashing in €70,000, and the winner of each Women’s event gaining €40,000.
