WR Chess retains World Blitz Team title, Hexamind third

by Shahid Ahmed - 16/06/2025

WR Chess Team successfully defended their World Blitz Team title as they defeated KazChess 4-2 in both matches. Hexamind Chess Team won the third place against Uzbekistan by winning by both matches with the same score 2.5-3.5. Only two out of 27 board prizes were won by Indians. GM Arjun Erigaisi (MGD1) got Bronze on Board no.1 and Sarbartho Mani (Freedom) received on Board no.9. The total prize fund was €500000 combining Rapid and Blitz, €310000 in Rapid and €190000 in Blitz. The top three prizes were: €110000, 70000 and 50000 each respectively. For Blitz, the top three were - €75000, €50000 and €30000 each. Photo: FIDE/Rafal Oleksiewicz

Arjun Erigaisi and Sarbartho Mani clinch Board prizes

World Blitz 2024 Cochampion, GM Ian Nepomniachtchi's presence certainly made an impact on WR Chess Team's performance and a successful defence of their World Blitz Team title. However, in the Quarterfinal, WR Chess lost the first match against Germany and Friends. They appealed for a rematch as they claim to have been told a different start time, resulting in arriving late and loss of the match. Their appeal was sustained, the results of the loss was annulled. WR Chess Team won both matches to advance to the Semifinals.

World Rapid Team 2025 Champion - Team MGD1 21/24 | Photo: FIDE/Rafal Oleksiewicz

Runner-up - Hexamind Chess Team 20/24 | Photo: FIDE/Rafal Oleksiewicz

Second Runner-up - Freedom 20/24 | Photo: FIDE/Rafal Oleksiewicz

World Blitz Team 2025 Champion - WR Chess | Photo: FIDE/Rafal Oleksiewicz

Interview with WR Chess | Video: FIDE

Runner-up - KazChess | Photo: FIDE/Rafal Oleksiewicz

Second Runner-up - Hexamind Chess Team | Photo: FIDE/Rafal Oleksiewicz

Vishy Anand, FIDE Deputy President, delivering his speech at the closing ceremony | Photo: FIDE/Rafal Oleksiewicz

World Blitz Team 2025 Knockout stage brackets | Graphic: FIDE

Board prizes

Board no.1 Bronze - GM Arjun Erigaisi (MGD1) 2736.64

GM Arjun Erigaisi (MGD1) | Photo: FIDE/Rafal Oleksiewicz

Board no.9 Bronze - Sarbartho Mani (Freedom) 1987.75

Sarbartho Mani (Freedom) | Photo: John Brezina

Board prize winners | Source

Video Gallery

Video: ChessBase India

GM Hikaru Nakamura analyzes his KO stage games | Video: GMHikaru

Replay live stream

Replay Blitz KO stage live commentary by GM Daniel King (ENG) and IM Jovanka Houska (ENG) | Video: FIDE

Venue

The venue for the event was Novotel London West in London, England.

Prize

The total prize fund was €500000 combining Rapid and Blitz, €310000 in Rapid and €190000 in Blitz. There were six prizes in Rapid - top five and two rating categories. The top three prizes were: €110000, 70000 and 50000 each respectively. Best U2400 and U2200 will earn €10000 and €5000 each respectively. For Blitz, the number of prizes were increased to five from four. The top three were - €75000, €50000 and €30000 each.

KO stage results

Final - Round 4 (2025/06/15)
No.	Team	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	TB1

14	D2 KazChess	2	2		0
1	A1 WR Chess Team	4	4		4
Small final for third place - Round 4 (2025/06/15)

9	C1 Uzbekistan	2,5	2,5		0
6	B2 Hexamind Chess Team	3,5	3,5		4
Semifinal - Round 3 (2025/06/15)
No.	Team	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	TB1

1	A1 WR Chess Team	5,5	3		3
6	B2 Hexamind Chess Team	0,5	3		1

14	D2 KazChess	3	4		3
9	C1 Uzbekistan	3	2		1
Quarterfinal - Round 2 (2025/06/15)
No.	Team	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	TB1

10	C2 Germany and Friends	1,5	2		0
1	A1 WR Chess Team	4,5	4		4

6	B2 Hexamind Chess Team	3	4		3
13	D1 Team MGD1	3	2		1

14	D2 KazChess	3	3,5		3
5	B1 Freedom	3	2,5		1

2	A2 Ashdod Elit Chess Club	3	1		1
9	C1 Uzbekistan	3	5		3
Round 1 (2025/06/15)
No.	Team	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	TB1

1	A1 WR Chess Team	5	4,5		4
8	B4 Malcolm's Mates	1	1,5		0

15	D3 Hetman GKS Katowice	1	0,5		0
10	C2 Germany and Friends	5	5,5		4

13	D1 Team MGD1	4	4		4
12	C4 Generation XYZA	2	2		0

3	A3 Knight Dance	0,5	2		0
6	B2 Hexamind Chess Team	5,5	4		4

5	B1 Freedom	6	5		4
4	A4 FIDE MB Team	0	1		0

11	C3 Rookies	1,5	5	0,5	2
14	D2 KazChess	4,5	1	5,5	4

9	C1 Uzbekistan	4	3		3
16	D4 Barys.kz	2	3		1

7	B3 Theme International Trading	2	4,5	1	2
2	A2 Ashdod Elit Chess Club	4	1,5	5	4

Details

Links

Buy tickets

Official site

Tournament Regulations

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