The WR Chess team went into the third and final day of action at the first-ever World Rapid Team Championship with a 3-point lead and had little trouble keeping the top spot in the standings. Two wins and two draws were enough to get a clear victory. Freedom and Team MGD1 finished second and third respectively. | Photo: FIDE / Niki Riga
The first edition of the World Rapid Team Championship kicked off on Saturday in Düsseldorf. Amid a relaxed environment, a few of the strongest GMs in the field suffered upsets. After the first four rounds, WR Chess, Wadim Rosenstein’s team, is the only squad with a perfect 8/8 score. Ian Nepomniachtchi was the strongest performer in the leading team, as he beat four lower-rated opponents in a row. | Pictured: The Chess Pensioners | Photo: Niki Riga
From Saturday to Monday, the first edition of the World Rapid Team Championship will take place in Düsseldorf. More than 80 grandmasters, including many big names but also numerous amateurs are taking part. Four former world champions will participate: Vladimir Kramnik, Vishy Anand, Hou Yifan and Alexandra Kosteniuk.
From 26th to 28th of August 2023, the German city of Düsseldorf will host a unique competition the first World Team Rapid Chess Championship, organized by FIDE in partnership with WR Logistics GmbH. 43 teams from all over the world will compete for a €250,000 prize fund, and the best team will receive the first prize of €100,000. Participants include former world champions Viswanathan Anand, Vladimir Kramnik, Hou Yifan, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Mariya Muzychuk, as well as Ian Nepomniachtchi, Fabiano Caruana, Boris Gelfand, Levon Aronian, Peter Svidler, Jan-Krzysztof Duda Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Daniil Dubov.
At top chess tournaments, you usually see the pictures of the players before and during the games. But there is also a lot to see behind the scenes, and the WR Chess Masters at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Düsseldorf is no exception. | Picture: Heike Keymer, Lotis Key and Sebastian Siebrecht (Photos: André Schulz)