Ju is women's world blitz champion, Nepo and Carlsen share open title

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
1/1/2025 – The second day of the World Blitz Chess Championships, held in New York, provided thrilling action as the knockout stages decided the champions in both the open and women's sections. Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi decided to share the open title after an epic 7-game final, marking Carlsen's eighth blitz crown and Nepo's first. Meanwhile, Ju Wenjun claimed her maiden women's blitz title with an overtime victory against Lei Tingjie. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

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Carlsen's streak, Nepo's comeback and an unexpected conclusion

The final day of the World Blitz Chess Championship, held on 31 December 2024, delivered drama, excitement and an unexpected conclusion. The day began with an intense quarterfinal match between Magnus Carlsen and Hans Niemann, culminating in Carlsen's victory. It ended with Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi agreeing to share the title after an epic 7-game final. Carlsen claimed his eighth world blitz title, while Nepo celebrated his first triumph in the event, marking a memorable close to the competition.

The journey to the shared title was anything but uneventful. In the quarterfinals, Carlsen overcame Niemann after an emotionally charged encounter, bouncing back from an initial loss to win two consecutive games. Reflecting on the tension, Carlsen noted the psychological challenges of the match and confessed, "I had to fight hard both against him and with myself".

In game 2 of the quarterfinal match, Niemann got to checkmate Carlsen's king.

Niemann v. Carlsen - Game 2

Nepo, meanwhile, comfortably defeated Volodar Murzin, Wesley So eliminated Alireza Firouzja and Jan-Krzysztof Duda edged past Fabiano Caruana to secure semifinal spots.

Hans Niemann, Magnus Carlsen

Magnus Carlsen had a strong emotional reaction after beating Hans Niemann in the quarterfinals (captured in this video) | Photo: FIDE / Lennart Ootes

In the semifinals, Nepo needed 5 games to outlast So, relying on sudden-death overtime after their 4-game match ended in a draw. Carlsen, by contrast, cruised past Duda with a dominant 3-0 scoreline. The final, a rematch of the 2021 World Championship in classical chess, promised a thrilling contest between the two heavyweights.

Carlsen entered the final as the clear favourite, buoyed by his unparalleled track record and a 5-game winning streak. The Norwegian extended his streak to 7 with 2 early victories in the final, forcing Nepo into a situation in which he needed to win back-to-back games on demand to keep the battle going. Displaying remarkable resilience, Nepo won twice in a row to level the score and push the contest into overtime.

Nepo played a marvellous final move to prompt Carlsen's resignation in game 4.

Carlsen v. Nepomniachtchi
31...Ne3+ is astounding - if 32.fxe3, Black wins with 32...Rg8+, while after 32.Qxe3 there is 32...d4+ with a killer discovered check

The tension remained high in the sudden-death games, with neither player able to break through. The first game ended in a 43-move draw, followed by 2 more balanced struggles concluding in 31 and 48 moves, leaving the score tied at 3½-3½. Cameras caught the finalists conversing after the third draw, and it was revealed that Carlsen proposed sharing the title. Amid suspense and speculation, the players embraced, and the official announcement confirmed their joint victory.

Ian Nepomniachtchi, Magnus Carlsen

It was an action-packed final match | Photo: FIDE / Lennart Ootes

World Blitz Chess Championship 2024

Communicating their proposal of sharing the title | Photo: FIDE / Lennart Ootes

Carlsen later explained his reasoning: "It had been a long day. We played many games, and I felt that continuing would have been too much. Sharing the title felt like the right solution". The decision highlighted the mutual respect between Carlsen and Nepo, who were both born in 1990 and have been rivals and colleagues throughout their careers. This year's championship thus ended on a note of camaraderie, showcasing the shared journey of two of the sport's finest players.

Of course, not respecting the regulations fully prompted diverging opinions, with Norwegian journalist Tarjei J. Svensen sharing on X:

I lost count of how many times I've argued with people who proposed sudden death as a way to determine the winner, instead of Armageddon. Here we see the problem. [...] This feels like a situation that could've happened some 30-40 years ago, but not in 2024. I have no idea which other sport players can just agree to share the world championship title, but that shouldn't happen.

Hans Niemann was even more critical of the situation:

FIDE goes from forfeiting Carlsen to creating an entirely new rule. Seems like the the regulatory body of chess has no intention of being unbiased. They seem to only care about what one player thinks.

Hans Niemann

The ever-controversial Hans Niemann | Photo: FIDE / Lennart Ootes

Wesley So, Ian Nepomniachtchi

Ian Nepomniachtchi was very relieved after beating Wesley So in their fifth game of the semifinals | Photo: FIDE / Michael Walusza

Jan-Krzysztof Duda

Jan-Krzysztof Duda knocked out current US champion Fabiano Caruana to reach the semifinals | Photo: FIDE / Lennart Ootes

All games - Knockout

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1.c4 1 Nf6 1 2.Nc3 1 e5 1       3.g3 2 Bb4 6 4.Nf3 2 e4 11 5.Nd4 1 0-0 5 6.Bg2 2 Re8 1 7.Nc2 4 Bxc3 2 8.dxc3 1 h6 1 9.c5 23 b6 4 10.cxb6 1 axb6 2 11.c4 2 d5 19 12.cxd5 12 Qxd5 1 13.Qxd5 18 Nxd5 2 14.0-0 2 Nd7 1 15.Rd1 10 N7f6 1 16.Ne3 21 Be6 1 17.a3 26 c6 1:04 18.Nxd5 1 Bxd5 2 19.Be3 4 b5 1 20.Rac1 3 Ng4 5 21.Bd4 18 Ne5 14 22.Bxe5 5 Rxe5 1 23.e3 1 Kf8 9 24.Bf1 6 Ke7 1 25.Rd4 5 Kd6 4 26.Be2 6 c5 10 27.Rd2 2 c4 1 28.Kf1 6 Kc5 3 29.Ke1 1 Be6 5 30.Rcd1 7 Rd5 3 31.Rxd5+ 2 Bxd5= 1       Endgame KRB-KRB 32.Kd2 2 b4 8 33.axb4+ 1 Kxb4 1 34.Kc2 8 Kc5 16 35.Kc3 5 Ra4 3 36.h4 10 g6 3 37.Bg4 16 Ra7 7 38.Be2 2 f5 5 39.Rg1 5 h5 10 40.Rd1 2 Ra8 2 41.Bf1 10 41.Rd4!? Ra1 42.Rd1= 42.Bxc4? perishes. Rc1+ 43.Kd2 Rxc4-+ 41...Ra7 3 42.Be2 1 Ra8 1 43.Bf1 5 Ra7 1 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2831Niemann,H2734½–½2024A22FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20241.1
Nepomniachtchi,I2755Murzin,V2664½–½2024C54FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20241.1
So,W2747Firouzja,A2763½–½2024D33FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20241.1
Duda,J2740Caruana,F28051–02024B45FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20241.1
Caruana,F2805Duda,J2740½–½2025C65FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20241.2
Firouzja,A2763So,W2747½–½2025C54FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20241.2
Niemann,H2734Carlsen,M28311–02025B51FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20241.2
Murzin,V2664Nepomniachtchi,I27550–12025E04FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20241.2
Carlsen,M2831Niemann,H27341–02025D00FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20241.3
Nepomniachtchi,I2755Murzin,V26641–02025C50FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20241.3
So,W2747Firouzja,A27631–02025A30FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20241.3
Duda,J2740Caruana,F28051–02025A15FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20241.3
Firouzja,A2763So,W27470–12024C55FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20241.4
Niemann,H2734Carlsen,M28310–12024C54FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20241.4
Carlsen,M2831Duda,J27401–02024D02FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20242.1
Nepomniachtchi,I2755So,W27470–12024C50FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20242.1
So,W2747Nepomniachtchi,I2755½–½2024E39FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20242.2
Duda,J2740Carlsen,M28310–12024A50FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20242.2
Carlsen,M2831Duda,J27401–02024B22FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20242.3
Nepomniachtchi,I2755So,W27471–02024D33FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20242.3
So,W2747Nepomniachtchi,I2755½–½2024E39FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20242.4
Nepomniachtchi,I2755So,W27471–02024C50FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20242.5
Nepomniachtchi,I2755Carlsen,M28310–12024B31FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20243.1
Carlsen,M2831Nepomniachtchi,I27551–02024B22FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20243.2
Nepomniachtchi,I2755Carlsen,M28311–02024A28FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20243.3
Carlsen,M2831Nepomniachtchi,I27550–12024C11FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20243.4
Nepomniachtchi,I2755Carlsen,M2831½–½2025B31FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20243.5
Carlsen,M2831Nepomniachtchi,I2755½–½2025D02FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20243.6
Nepomniachtchi,I2755Carlsen,M2831½–½2024C55FIDE Open World Blitz-KO 20243.7

Women's section: Ju beats Lei in overtime

The women's knockout stage showcased fewer twists and turns but a fair share of intense competition, with 3 out of the 7 matches going to overtime. Ultimately, Ju Wenjun emerged victorious, claiming the women's world blitz title for the first time in her career. Ju, the reigning women's world champion in classical chess, defeated Lei Tingjie in the final match. It was a rematch of their classical title contest last year, which had also gone Ju's way.

Ju's path to the final was commanding, as she scored convincing 2½-½ victories over defending champion Valentina Gunina and Vaishali Rameshbabu in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively. Lei, on the other hand, had to work harder to secure her spot. She edged out 3-time women's world blitz champion Kateryna Lagno in a fiercely contested quarterfinal before overcoming Bibisara Assaubayeva in a tough semifinal match.

Ju Wenjun

Ju Wenjun | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Ju Wenjun

World champion in blitz and classical chess | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

The all-Chinese final began with Lei holding the white pieces. Both players, deeply familiar with each other's styles, chose a cautious approach. All 4 regulation games ended in draws, with neither Ju nor Lei willing to take significant risks. Sudden-death games followed, and Ju defended resolutely with black in the first overtime game, holding a 38-move draw. With the white pieces in the second game, Ju capitalised on her chances to secure the title.

In the deciding encounter, Lei played a theoretical pawn sacrifice early in the opening...

Ju v. Lei - Game 6
This is a theoretical position out of the Tarrasch - Black gives up the central pawn voluntarily

...but failed to find compensation later on, as Ju showed great technique to make the most of the material advantage she gained at such an early stage.

By move 29, White has consolidated her advantage - from this point on, it was mostly a matter of technique, and despite the quick time control, Ju showed her class to win the game...and the tournament

The spectators at Cipriani Wall Street, the elegant New York venue, gave the new champion a standing ovation.

This triumph added another accolade to Ju's illustrious career, complementing her classical and rapid titles. Before this victory, her closest attempt at the women's world blitz title was a third-place finish in Riyadh in 2017. Similarly, Lei had achieved her best world blitz performance with a third-place finish in the 2018 championship in Saint Petersburg.

Ju Wenjun, Lei Tingjie

It was a hard-fought final match | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Ju Wenjun, Lei Tingjie

A friendly post-mortem | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Ju Wenjun, Lei Tingjie, Kateryna Lagno, Vaishali Rameshbabu

Lei Tingjie and Ju Wenjun joined by semifinalists Kateryna Lagno and Vaishali Rameshbabu | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

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1.d4 1 d5 1 2.c4 0 c6 1 3.cxd5 1 cxd5 1 4.Nc3 1 Nf6 4 5.Bf4 1 Nc6 2 6.e3 1 a6 2 7.Rc1 8 Bf5 4 8.Nf3 3 e6 8 9.Qb3 2 Bb4 1 10.Ne5 2 0-0 22 10...Be7= keeps the balance. 11.Nxc6± 6 Bxc3+ 2 12.Qxc3 6 bxc6 1 13.Be2 7 Prevents Nh5. Ne4 6 Repels h4 14.Qa3 2 14.Qxc6 Qa5+ 15.Kf1 e5 16.Bxe5 Rfc8-+ 14...Qb6 28 Better is 14...g5 15.Be5 f6 15.0-0 7 White should try 15.g4 15...Rfc8 4 16.f3 20 Nf6 9 Black is weak on the dark squares 17.Rc3 2 a5 15       18.Rb3 4 Qa7 5 19.Rc1 2 a4 7 20.Rbc3 2 White is more active. Qb6 11 21.h3 12 h6 2 22.Bd6 10       Nd7 4 23.Qb4 6 Qxb4 41 24.Bxb4 1 Nb8 10 25.a3 13 f6 4 26.Rc5 14 e5 8 26...Rc7± keeps fighting. 27.Rb5 cxb5 28.Rxc7 Na6 27.Ra5 4 27.e4 dxe4 28.g4 28.dxe5 Nd7± 28.Bc4+ Kh7 28...Be6± 27...Rxa5 2 28.Bxa5 1 exd4 1 29.exd4 1 Nd7 5 30.Bd1 8 Rb8 6 30...Ra8± 31.Bxa4+- 10 31.Rxc6?! Rxb2 32.Bxa4 Nf8± 31...Rxb2 3 32.Bxc6 1 Kh7 7 32...Nb6 33.Rc5 Bd3 33.a4 10 Inferior is 33.Bxd5 Rb5 34.Bc6 Rxa5= 33...Ra2 3 34.Bc7 13 34.Bxd5 Rxa4 35.Bc3 Nb6± 34.g4 Be6 35.Re1 34...Nf8 1 35.g4 23 Not 35.Bxd5 Rxa4 36.Bc4 Ne6± 35...Bd3 5 36.Bxd5 22 Rxa4 1 37.Rd1 4 Bc2 3 38.Rd2 2 Bb1 1 39.h4 5       Ng6? 1 39...h5 40.Kf2 40.gxh5 Bf5 40...hxg4 41.fxg4 Ra7 40.h5 2 Ne7 1 41.Bf7 4 Ra7 2 42.Bg3 3 Nc6 6 43.Be6 1 Nd8 6 44.Bc4 2 Ra4 1 45.Be2 5 f5 5 45...Ra2 46.Bd3+ Kh8 47.Rxa2 Bxa2 46.d5 1       fxg4 2 47.fxg4 1 Hoping for d6. Be4? 5 47...Ra2 48.Rxa2 Bxa2 48.d6 2 Bc6 2 49.Be5 12 49.Bh4 49...Nf7 2 50.Bc3 4 This pair of bishops is nice. 50.Bh2+- 50...Bd7± 2 51.Kf2 1 Ng5 2
51...Kg8± 52.Rd4? 2 52.Bd3+!+- Kg8 53.Re2 52...Ne4+? 1      
52...Rxd4= 53.Bxd4 Ne4+ 54.Kf3 Nxd6 53.Rxe4! 2       Rxe4 1 KRB-KB 53...Ra3 54.Re7 54.Bd3 1 Kg8 7 55.Bxe4 1 Bxg4 0 56.Bc6 1 Kf7 1 57.d7 0 Ke7 2 58.Bb4+ 1 Kd8 2 59.Ba5+ 1
1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Ju,W2563Gunina,V24251–02024D13FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20241.1
Lei,T2549Assaubayeva,B24921–02024E61FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20241.1
Vaishali,R2476Zhu,J25140–12024B93FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20241.1
Yip,C2432Lagno,K2515½–½2024A07FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20241.1
Lagno,K2515Yip,C24321–02024C63FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20241.2
Zhu,J2514Vaishali,R24760–12024C79FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20241.2
Assaubayeva,B2492Lei,T2549½–½2024D27FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20241.2
Gunina,V2425Ju,W25630–12024D38FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20241.2
Ju,W2563Gunina,V2425½–½2024D10FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20241.3
Lei,T2549Assaubayeva,B2492½–½2024E97FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20241.3
Vaishali,R2476Zhu,J2514½–½2024B93FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20241.3
Yip,C2432Lagno,K25151–02024A07FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20241.3
Lagno,K2515Yip,C24321–02024C50FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20241.4
Zhu,J2514Vaishali,R24760–12024C76FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20241.4
Assaubayeva,B2492Lei,T2549½–½2024A14FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20241.4
Lei,T2549Lagno,K2515½–½2024D35FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20242.1
Vaishali,R2476Ju,W2563½–½2024C48FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20242.1
Ju,W2563Vaishali,R24761–02024D58FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20242.2
Lagno,K2515Lei,T25491–02024C78FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20242.2
Lei,T2549Lagno,K25151–02024D35FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20242.3
Vaishali,R2476Ju,W25630–12024D02FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20242.3
Lagno,K2515Lei,T2549½–½2024B23FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20242.4
Lei,T2549Lagno,K2515½–½2024C50FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20242.5
Lagno,K2515Lei,T25490–12024B44FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20242.6
Lei,T2549Ju,W2563½–½2024D35FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20243.1
Ju,W2563Lei,T2549½–½2024D35FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20243.2
Lei,T2549Ju,W2563½–½2024C55FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20243.3
Ju,W2563Lei,T2549½–½2024D35FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20243.4
Lei,T2549Ju,W2563½–½2025C54FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20243.5
Ju,W2563Lei,T25491–02024D32FIDE Women World Blitz-KO 20243.6

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Carlos Colodro is a Hispanic Philologist from Bolivia. He works as a freelance translator and writer since 2012. A lot of his work is done in chess-related texts, as the game is one of his biggest interests, along with literature and music.

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