2024 World Blitz Chess Championship: Shared Victory for Carlsen and Nepomniachtchi, Ju Wenjun Crowned Women’s Champion

In an unprecedented outcome, the 2024 World Blitz Chess Championship saw Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi share the open title after a thrilling final that ended in a 3.5-3.5 draw following tiebreakers. This marks the first time in the tournament’s history that two players have been declared joint champions.

Carlsen, the Norwegian chess prodigy, secured his eighth Blitz title, while Nepomniachtchi claimed his first major championship victory. The intense final saw Carlsen take an early 2-0 lead, only for Nepomniachtchi to stage a remarkable comeback, forcing the match into sudden death tiebreakers. After three drawn games, Carlsen proposed sharing the title, which Nepomniachtchi accepted.

In the women’s division, Chinese grandmaster Ju Wenjun added another accolade to her impressive collection by clinching the Blitz title. Ju overcame her compatriot Lei Tingjie in a closely contested final, securing a 3.5-2.5 victory. This triumph follows Ju’s success in the classical format, further cementing her status as one of the world’s top female chess players.

The path to the final saw both champions overcome formidable opponents. Carlsen defeated Hans Niemann and Jan-Krzysztof Duda, while Nepomniachtchi bested Volodar Murzin and Wesley So. In the women’s bracket, Ju Wenjun demonstrated her dominance with convincing wins against Valentina Gunina and India’s Vaishali Rameshbabu.

This championship will be remembered for its dramatic conclusion and the high level of play exhibited by the world’s elite chess players. The shared title in the open section highlights the intense competition and close margins at the pinnacle of blitz chess.