World Rapid Championship: Humpy Takes Bronze as Goryachkina Wins Gold After Playoff

Doha, Qatar, hosted the 2025 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships from December 25 to 30 at the Sports and Events Complex, Qatar University, where top players from around the world competed in intense rapid-format battles. Indian grandmaster Koneru Humpy, the defending women's world rapid champion from 2024 and a previous winner in 2019, mounted a strong challenge to secure a historic third title. After an unbeaten run through 11 rounds in the women's section, she finished tied for first place with China's Zhu Jiner and Russia's Aleksandra Goryachkina, each scoring 8.5 points. However, the final standings were determined by FIDE's tie-breaker rules—Buchholz Cut 1, Buchholz, and average rapid rating of opponents—leaving Humpy in third position and earning the bronze medal.

The decisive moment came in the 11th and final round, where Humpy, playing against young Indian compatriot B. Savitha Shri with black pieces, missed a winning opportunity in a favorable endgame and settled for a draw after 64 moves. A full-point victory would have elevated her to 9 points outright, clinching the title without tie-breaks and making her the first woman to achieve three world rapid championships. Instead, Zhu and Goryachkina advanced to a blitz playoff, where Goryachkina emerged victorious 1.5-0.5 to claim her maiden world rapid title and the €40,000 first prize. Zhu took silver, while Humpy's bronze added to her impressive collection of rapid accolades despite the disappointment.

In the open section, Norwegian superstar Magnus Carlsen dominated once again, securing his sixth world rapid crown with an impressive 10.5 points out of 13 rounds, finishing a full point clear of the field for €70,000. He recovered strongly after an earlier setback, winning key games on the final day before drawing his last against Dutch GM Anish Giri to seal the victory. Russian GM Vladislav Artemiev claimed silver with 9.5 points, while India's Arjun Erigaisi earned bronze on tie-breaks among several players at 9.5 points, marking a strong showing for the young Indian talent.

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Other Indian participants included D Gukesh, the reigning classical world champion, who finished with 8.5 points in 20th place, alongside Nihal Sarin and R Praggnanandhaa, also on 8.5 points. In the women's event, compatriots like R. Vaishali (8 points, fifth place), B. Savitha Shri (8 points, fourth), Divya Deshmukh (7.5 points, eighth), and D. Harika (7 points, 19th) contributed to a solid Indian presence. Humpy's performance highlighted her enduring strength in faster time controls, even as the tie-break system proved decisive.

The championships concluded on December 28, 2025, with the World Blitz events beginning the following day, where Carlsen entered as a heavy favorite. The event underscored the high stakes and dramatic turns in rapid chess, as well as the growing global competitiveness, with strong performances from players across continents. Humpy's near-miss serves as a testament to her skill and a reminder of the fine margins that define world titles in this thrilling format.

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