Russian grandmaster Sergey Karjakin toppled current World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen to win the World Blitz Chess Championship title in Doha in 2016. Carlsen (R) took silver and Russian grandmaster Daniil Dubov (L) took bronze.
World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships —
Russian grandmaster Sergey Karjakin toppled current World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen to win the World Blitz Chess Championship title in Doha in 2016. Carlsen (R) took silver and Russian grandmaster Daniil Dubov (L) took bronze.
KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Ukraine's grandmaster Anna Muzychuk won both the Women Rapid and Women Blitz Championships in Doha last year.
World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships —
Ukraine's grandmaster Anna Muzychuk won both the Women Rapid and Women Blitz Championships in Doha last year.
KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty Images
Incumbent Rapid World Champion, Ukranian Vassily Ivanchuk, (pictured) will join over 180 top grandmasters at the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Friyadh2017.fide.com%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">2017 King Salman World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships</a> in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between 26 and 30 December.<br />
World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships —
Incumbent Rapid World Champion, Ukranian Vassily Ivanchuk, (pictured) will join over 180 top grandmasters at the 2017 King Salman World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between 26 and 30 December.
AFP/Getty Images
The Rapid Championship will be held over three days and consists of 15 rounds, followed by the two-day Blitz Championship with 21 rounds.
World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships —
The Rapid Championship will be held over three days and consists of 15 rounds, followed by the two-day Blitz Championship with 21 rounds.
Sebastian Reuter/Getty Images for World Chess by Agon Limited
In 2014, Carlsen (pictured here at the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Dubai 2014) became the first player to hold the World Champion title in Standard, Rapid and Blitz chess. <br />
World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships —
In 2014, Carlsen (pictured here at the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Dubai 2014) became the first player to hold the World Champion title in Standard, Rapid and Blitz chess.
Francois Nel/Getty Images Europe
The total prize fund for the event is $2 million with individual prize funds of $750,000 for the open section and $250,000 for the women's section in both events.
World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships —
The total prize fund for the event is $2 million with individual prize funds of $750,000 for the open section and $250,000 for the women's section in both events.
Sebastian Reuter/Getty Images for World Chess by Agon Limited