Norway's Magnus Carlsen wins 20th world chess title / Photo: © AFP
-
Abdul El-Sayed declares victory in Michigan Senate contest
-
Kuwait marks key events and anniversaries from national history
-
Democrats capture US Congress in sweeping midterm victory
-
Trump congratulates Democrats and signals willingness to cooperate
-
Manchester United rallies past Roma as PSG dominates in Champions League
-
Qatar prime minister advances mediation through diplomatic calls
-
Qatar sees tentative opening for renewed regional diplomacy
-
Greenland parliament approves security agreement with United States
-
Qatar Tourism joins Pacific Asia Travel Association at London travel market
-
Qatar envoy meets incoming UN General Assembly president
-
Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan Senate Seat in Historic Election
-
Trump Signals Willingness to Work With Democrats After Midterm Defeat
-
Qatar media bodies discuss support for humanitarian initiatives
-
Pitches and Keynote Speakers Are Confirmed for Blue Magic Netherlands on November 17
-
Galloway accuser could not foresee publishing-sector fallout, lawyer argues
-
No. 22 UCLA defeats No. 5 Arizona 84-75 despite Kharchenkov's 38 points
-
New York City Center revives In the Heights as a timely community story
-
Vessel operator seeks witnesses after Vancouver grounding
-
Godzilla Minus Zero shifts focus toward postwar human drama
-
US Air Force deploys F-16 fighters to remote Aleutian base for readiness drill
Norway's Magnus Carlsen wins 20th world chess title
Norway's Magnus Carlsen, the world's number one chess player, on Tuesday won the World Blitz Championship in Doha, days after victory in the slightly longer 'rapid' format, to secure his 20th world title.
Carlsen, 35, beat Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Abdusattorov, 21, in the final, securing victory with black in the fourth and final game, after losing the first.
Blitz games are played with three minutes at the start for both players, plus an additional two seconds per move.
Carlsen almost failed to reach the semi-finals after suffering three defeats in the 19 qualifying games, finishing third in the standings.
He beat American Fabiano Caruana in the semis to take on Abdusattorov, rapid world champion in 2021.
On Sunday, Carlsen was crowned rapid world champion, where players have 15 minutes and 10 seconds added per move, finishing first in the regular standings, with the competition taking place without a final phase.
The Nordic grandmaster now has nine blitz titles, six in rapid and five in the most prestigious longer format, which involves more than 10 games between the world champion and a challenger.
Carlsen relinquished his long-format crown in 2023, citing lack of motivation. It is now held by India's Dommaraju Gukesh.
In October, he and the International Chess Federation (FIDE) backed a new world championship format that sets the stage for his return.
The new "Total Chess World Championship Tour" will consist of four events a year and will crown one combined champion for three disciplines: fast classic, rapid and blitz.
A pilot version of the competition will be tested in the autumn of next year, with the first full season set for 2027.
N.Fournier--BTB
