Carlsen’s Golden Comeback, Erigaisi’s Bronze Brilliance at Blitz Worlds

The World Blitz Chess Championship 2025 in Doha delivered high drama and elite level chess. While Magnus Carlsen reclaimed the blitz crown with a historic ninth title India’s Arjun Erigaisi impressed with consistent brilliance but settled for bronze. The tournament highlighted resilience, nerves under pressure and India’s rising stature in global chess.

Why in the News?

At the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship in Doha, Magnus Carlsen won the World Blitz title for the ninth time, while Arjun Erigaisi claimed bronze, making both players the only ones to win two medals at the event.

Carlsens Comeback for the Ages

• Magnus Carlsen’s path to the title was far from smooth.
• He struggled through the round-robin stage with blunders, time trouble, and even forfeits.
• Despite these setbacks, his experience and mental strength stood out in knockout games.
• In the final, he defeated Nodirbek Abdusattorov, calling it one of the hardest-earned world titles of his career, underlining his enduring dominance.

Arjun Erigaisi’s Brilliant Yet Bittersweet Run

• Arjun Erigaisi displayed imperious form throughout the blitz section.
• Topping the standings among 252 players, he lost just one of 19 games in the league stage.
• He defeated top names, including Carlsen, and showed elite consistency.
• However, a dip in form during the semi-finals cost him a shot at gold, resulting in a joint bronze finish.

India’s Overall Performance in Doha

• India finished the prestigious year-ending championship with three bronze medals.
• Alongside Erigaisi’s rapid and blitz bronzes, Koneru Humpy secured bronze in the Women’s Rapid Championship.
• The results reaffirmed India’s strong presence in world chess and highlighted the depth of talent across formats and categories.

What Is Blitz Chess?

• Blitz chess is a fastpaced format where each player typically gets three to five minutes for the entire game, plus a small increment per move.
• Recognized by FIDE, blitz chess tests speed, intuition, and nerves, making it one of the most exciting and unpredictable formats in competitive chess.

Key Data At Glance

Question

Q. Who won the World Blitz Chess Championship 2025 title?

A. Fabiano Caruana
B. Arjun Erigaisi
C. Magnus Carlsen
D. Nodirbek Abdusattorov