FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships Qatar 2025
The FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships 2025 bring the worldβs fastest chess to Doha, Qatar, uniting the Open and Womenβs championships under one festival. Four crowns are at stakeβOpen Rapid, Open Blitz, Womenβs Rapid, Womenβs Blitzβwith elite fields, global coverage, and major prize funds.
Expect a compact holiday schedule, top arbiters, full FIDE rating, and professional fair-play standards. Itβs the definitive year-end showdown in the chess calendar.
Event Details
| π Dates | 25β31 December 2025 |
| π Location | Doha, Qatar |
| π° Prize Fund (Open) | β¬700,000 total (Rapid β¬350,000 β’ Blitz β¬350,000) |
| π° Prize Fund (Women) | β¬300,000 total (Rapid β¬150,000 β’ Blitz β¬150,000) |
| π Tournament Type | World Championships β’ FIDE rated |
| 𧩠Tournament System | Rapid: Swiss β’ Blitz: Stage 1 Swiss β Stage 2 4-player Knockout |
| π’ Number of Rounds | Open Rapid 13 β’ Womenβs Rapid 11 β’ Open Blitz 19 (Stage 1) β’ Womenβs Blitz 15 (Stage 1) |
| β±οΈ Time Control | Rapid 15β+10β β’ Blitz 3β+2β (from move 1) |
| β° Default Time / Late Arrival | No default time |
| π Registration (fees) | Open: β¬100 by Dec 15; β¬200 after β’ Women: β¬50 by Dec 15; β¬100 after |
| π’ Organizer | FIDE |
| βοΈ Email | (via official website contact) |
| βοΈ Phone | (via official website contact) |
| π Official Website | worldrapidandblitz2025.fide.com |
Prize Fund & Breakdown
Open β Rapid (β¬350,000)
| Place | Prize (β¬) |
|---|---|
| 1st | 70,000 |
| 2nd | 50,000 |
| 3rd | 36,000 |
| 4th | 28,000 |
| 5th | 23,000 |
| 6th | 19,000 |
| 7th | 16,000 |
| 8th | 13,000 |
| 9th | 11,000 |
| 10th | 10,000 |
| 11thβ17th | 5,000 each |
| 18thβ25th | 3,000 each |
| 26thβ35th | 1,500 each |
| Total | β¬350,000 |
Rapid prizes are shared among players with the same score.
Open β Blitz (β¬350,000)
| Place | Prize (β¬) |
|---|---|
| 1st | 70,000 |
| 2nd | 50,000 |
| 3rd | 28,000 |
| 4th | 28,000 |
| 5th | 24,000 |
| 6th | 21,000 |
| 7th | 18,000 |
| 8th | 15,000 |
| 9th | 12,000 |
| 10th | 10,000 |
| 11thβ17th | 5,000 each |
| 18thβ25th | 3,000 each |
| 26thβ35th | 1,500 each |
| Total | β¬350,000 |
In Blitz, prizes are shared among players with the same score who do not qualify for Stage 2.
Women β Rapid (β¬150,000)
| Place | Prize (β¬) |
|---|---|
| 1st | 40,000 |
| 2nd | 27,000 |
| 3rd | 19,000 |
| 4th | 14,000 |
| 5th | 11,000 |
| 6th | 8,000 |
| 7th | 6,000 |
| 8th | 5,000 |
| 9th | 4,000 |
| 10th | 3,500 |
| 11thβ15th | 2,500 each |
| Total | β¬150,000 |
Women β Blitz (β¬150,000)
| Place | Prize (β¬) |
|---|---|
| 1st | 40,000 |
| 2nd | 25,000 |
| 3rd | 15,000 |
| 4th | 15,000 |
| 5th | 12,000 |
| 6th | 9,500 |
| 7th | 7,500 |
| 8th | 5,500 |
| 9th | 4,500 |
| 10th | 3,500 |
| 11thβ15th | 2,500 each |
| Total | β¬150,000 |
Time Control & Pairings
- Rapid (Open & Women): Swiss; Open 13 rounds β’ Women 11 rounds; 15β+10β; no default time.
- Blitz β Stage 1 (Open & Women): Swiss; Open 19 rounds β’ Women 15 rounds; 3β+2β; no default time.
- Blitz β Stage 2: Top 4 from Stage 1 play 4-game knockout matches (Semi-finals & Final).
- Tiebreaks (Swiss stages): Standard Buchholz-based procedures; Rapid title playoff if required.
Sections / Groups
| Championship | Format | Rounds | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Rapid | Swiss | 13 | World title & medals |
| Womenβs Rapid | Swiss | 11 | World title & medals |
| Open Blitz | Swiss + KO (Top 4) | 19 + KO | Stage 1 Swiss β Stage 2 KO |
| Womenβs Blitz | Swiss + KO (Top 4) | 15 + KO | Stage 1 Swiss β Stage 2 KO |
Schedule (combined overview)
Open (Rapid & Blitz)
| Date | Event / Rounds | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Dec | Arrivals & Accreditation | All day |
| 26 Dec | Opening β’ Rapid Rds 1β5 | Opening 13:00 β’ R1 14:00 β’ R2 15:20 β’ R3 16:40 β’ R4 18:00 β’ R5 19:20 |
| 27 Dec | Rapid Rds 6β9 | 14:00 β’ 15:20 β’ 16:40 β’ 18:00 |
| 28 Dec | Rapid Rds 10β13 β’ Play-off (if needed) | 14:00 β’ 15:20 β’ 16:40 β’ 18:00 β’ Play-off ~19:30 |
| 29 Dec | Blitz Stage 1 Rds 1β13 | Block sessions (β every 30 minutes) |
| 30 Dec | Blitz Stage 1 Rds 14β19 β’ Stage 2 SF β’ Final β’ Closing | R14βR19 afternoon β’ SF early evening β’ Final later β’ Closing |
| 31 Dec | Departures | All day |
Women (Rapid & Blitz)
| Date | Event / Rounds | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Dec | Arrivals & Accreditation | All day |
| 26 Dec | Opening β’ Rapid Rds 1β4 | Opening 13:00 β’ R1 14:00 β’ R2 15:20 β’ R3 16:40 β’ R4 18:00 |
| 27 Dec | Rapid Rds 5β8 | 14:00 β’ 15:20 β’ 16:40 β’ 18:00 |
| 28 Dec | Rapid Rds 9β11 β’ Play-off (if needed) | 14:00 β’ 15:20 β’ 16:40 β’ Play-off after |
| 29 Dec | Blitz Stage 1 Rds 1β10 | Block sessions (β every 30 minutes) |
| 30 Dec | Blitz Stage 1 Rds 11β15 β’ Stage 2 SF β’ Final β’ Closing | R11βR15 afternoon β’ SF early evening β’ Final later β’ Closing |
| 31 Dec | Departures | All day |
Registration
- Who registers: Players register themselves (not via federations).
- Entry fees: Open β¬100 by 15 Dec (β¬200 after) β’ Women β¬50 by 15 Dec (β¬100 after).
- Eligibility: Rating/qualification thresholds for Open/Women; Organizer/FIDE nominations possible.
- Hotel policy: Foreign players and accredited accompanying persons are expected to use official hotels (details on the website).
- Visa support: Invitation letters provided on request; apply early.
Organizer
FIDE (International Chess Federation) delivers the World Rapid & Blitz with top-level venue standards, anti-cheating measures, international arbiters and broadcast production.
- Website: worldrapidandblitz2025.fide.com
Venue
Doha, Qatar,Β Sports and Events Complex of Qatar University
π Google Maps: Doha
Accommodation
Official hotel list and rates will be announced. Selected top-rated players and medalists may receive travel support and 4β hotel accommodation with daily allowance (per regulations). Early booking recommended.
How to Get There
- By Air: Hamad International Airport (DOH) connects globally.
- Airport β Hotels/Venue: Taxi, ride-hailing and metro lines serve central Doha efficiently.
- Local Transport: Modern metro and buses; tournament updates will indicate the exact playing hall.
Close the chess year on the world stageβfour crowns, the fastest formats, and the brightest stars. See you in Doha at the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships 2025!
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