In a few days, the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Tournament is being held on Wall Street in New York. The event not only decides the world champion in a quick and blitz format. It will also decide which players get a FIDE circuit spot for the prestigious candidate tournament.
Candidates have one place designated on the 2024 FIDE circuit on the way to the tournament. There are two players in the running for the spot: India’s Arjun Irigaisi and Fabiano Caruana. American GM leads Arjun Irigaisi by just 6 points The FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Chess Tournament 2024 is the last tournament that awards circuit points.
Caruana raced for the lead in the 2024 FIDE circuit race after emerging victorious at the St. Louis Masters. The win helped him score 16.39 points to overtake Arjun Arigaisi on the leaderboard.
Arjun Arigaisi finished second at the Qatar Masters Open 2024. After both have completed seven tournaments counted in the 2024 FIDE Circuit Final Standings, Fabiano Caruana holds a six-point lead over his main rival.
Magnus Carlsen takes on Arjun Arigaisi in the Tata Steel India Rapid and Blitz Chess tournament at the Dhonho Dhanyo Auditorium in Kolkata on Thursday. (Express photo by Parth Paul)
It should be noted that Arjun Arigaisi is yet to obtain a visa for the US to compete in the World Rapid and Blitz tournament.
FIDE Circuit Standings
The World Rapid and Blitz Championship will be held in America from December 26 to 31. There are 115 entries in the field for the women’s rapid event and 113 entries in the women’s blitz event. In the Open section, there are 182 entries in Rapid and 184 in Blitz.
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