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GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave finished first in the World Blitz Chess Championship with 15/21 in the Swiss tournament, after defeating GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda in their third blitz playoff game. Duda finished in second and GM Alireza Firouzja finished in third, each with 15/21 as well. With the same controversial tiebreak system as the rapid event, Firouzja did not play in the playoff games due to tiebreaks.
17-year-old Kazakh IM Bibisara Assaubayeva continued a nearly unstoppable streak of wins to finish first with 14/17, having an entire round to spare. GM Alexandra Kosteniuk finished in second with 12.5/17 and GM Valentina Gunina finished in third with 12/17. IM Polina Shuvalova, who finished with 12 points, had the inferior tiebreak and did not place in third.
Chess.com’s full report on the tournament’s conclusion with photos, quotes, and analysis by GM Dejan Bojkov will be published shortly.
How to watch the 2021 FIDE World Blitz Championship live
The final day of the most prestigious blitz event in the world began with drama as multiple players, unfortunately, tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, a fan-favorite among them.
Wasn’t feeling well before the Rapid, told @FIDE_chess , got tested – was neg and I played. Needed to take a test today to fly tomorrow – it’s positive. I cannot finish the tournament and now am worried for all my opponents. Will be seeing you on stream doing commentary, I guess.
— Hikaru Nakamura (@GMHikaru) December 30, 2021
🏆 GM @Vachier_Lagrave has won the FIDE World Blitz Chess Championship 2021! 🎉🎉🎉 #RapidBlitz pic.twitter.com/vNSeWjaGLM
— Chess.com (@chesscom) December 30, 2021
2021 World Blitz Championship | Final Standings (Top 20)
| Rk. | SNo | Fed | Name | Rtg | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | |
| 1 | 8 | GM | Vachier-Lagrave Maxime | 2787 | 15 | 244 | 251.5 | 2660 | |
| 2 | 6 | GM | Duda Jan-Krzysztof | 2792 | 15 | 242 | 249.5 | 2640 | |
| 3 | 4 | GM | Firouzja Alireza | 2810 | 15 | 237 | 245.5 | 2609 | |
| 4 | 14 | GM | Dubov Daniil | 2749 | 14.5 | 253.5 | 262 | 2670 | |
| 5 | 15 | GM | Aronian Levon | 2740 | 14 | 256 | 264.5 | 2682 | |
| 6 | 12 | GM | Mamedyarov Shakhriyar | 2754 | 14 | 249.5 | 258.5 | 2640 | |
| 7 | 3 | GM | Artemiev Vladislav | 2830 | 14 | 245 | 253.5 | 2646 | |
| 8 | 133 | GM | Sindarov Javokhir | 2452 | 13.5 | 259 | 269.5 | 2689 | |
| 9 | 22 | GM | Fedoseev Vladimir | 2690 | 13.5 | 258.5 | 267 | 2674 | |
| 10 | 76 | GM | Oparin Grigoriy | 2580 | 13.5 | 256 | 266 | 2678 | |
| 11 | 19 | GM | Martirosyan Haik M. | 2707 | 13.5 | 252.5 | 262 | 2659 | |
| 12 | 1 | GM | Carlsen Magnus | 2892 | 13.5 | 252 | 262.5 | 2664 | |
| 13 | 47 | GM | Kravtsiv Martyn | 2638 | 13.5 | 250.5 | 258.5 | 2641 | |
| 14 | 11 | GM | Grischuk Alexander | 2757 | 13.5 | 248.5 | 257 | 2665 | |
| 15 | 105 | GM | Kobalia Mikhail | 2532 | 13.5 | 247.5 | 257.5 | 2677 | |
| 16 | 9 | GM | Giri Anish | 2778 | 13.5 | 247.5 | 256.5 | 2651 | |
| 17 | 30 | GM | Alekseenko Kirill | 2663 | 13 | 247 | 257 | 2619 | |
| 18 | 52 | GM | Vidit Santosh Gujrathi | 2628 | 13 | 238.5 | 247 | 2594 | |
| 19 | 20 | GM | Nihal Sarin | 2705 | 13 | 236 | 244 | 2584 | |
| 20 | 28 | GM | Sarana Alexey | 2672 | 13 | 234.5 | 243.5 | 2576 |
(Full final standings here.)
All World Blitz Championship Games
IM Bibisara Assubayeva has clinched the FIDE World Women’s Blitz Chess Championship 2021 with a round to spare! 🎉🎉🎉 pic.twitter.com/6eOUiOeqtq
— Chess.com (@chesscom) December 30, 2021
2021 Women’s World Blitz Championship | Final Standings (Top 20)
| Rk. | SNo | Fed | Name | Rtg | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | |
| 1 | 29 | IM | Assaubayeva Bibisara | 2285 | 14 | 170 | 177.5 | 2328 | |
| 2 | 5 | GM | Kosteniuk Alexandra | 2475 | 12.5 | 157.5 | 164.5 | 2274 | |
| 3 | 6 | GM | Gunina Valentina | 2452 | 12 | 173 | 181.5 | 2332 | |
| 4 | 24 | IM | Shuvalova Polina | 2306 | 12 | 167.5 | 174 | 2271 | |
| 5 | 3 | GM | Koneru Humpy | 2483 | 11.5 | 168.5 | 176 | 2326 | |
| 6 | 43 | IM | Buksa Nataliya | 2199 | 11.5 | 167.5 | 173.5 | 2329 | |
| 7 | 11 | GM | Dzagnidze Nana | 2394 | 11.5 | 156.5 | 164 | 2193 | |
| 8 | 7 | GM | Goryachkina Aleksandra | 2441 | 11 | 166.5 | 174 | 2298 | |
| 9 | 2 | GM | Muzychuk Anna | 2509 | 11 | 161 | 168.5 | 2274 | |
| 10 | 1 | GM | Lagno Kateryna | 2592 | 11 | 156.5 | 163 | 2274 | |
| 11 | 4 | GM | Stefanova Antoaneta | 2477 | 11 | 152 | 158 | 2230 | |
| 12 | 9 | IM | Paehtz Elisabeth | 2412 | 11 | 148.5 | 155.5 | 2234 | |
| 13 | 36 | GM | Girya Olga | 2262 | 11 | 144.5 | 150.5 | 2183 | |
| 14 | 21 | IM | Vaishali R | 2313 | 10.5 | 168.5 | 174.5 | 2307 | |
| 15 | 38 | WGM | Mamedjarova Zeinab | 2250 | 10.5 | 155.5 | 162 | 2263 | |
| 16 | 26 | IM | Gaponenko Inna | 2292 | 10.5 | 149 | 156 | 2217 | |
| 17 | 10 | IM | Bodnaruk Anastasia | 2406 | 10.5 | 147 | 154 | 2195 | |
| 18 | 34 | IM | Kulon Klaudia | 2265 | 10.5 | 145.5 | 151.5 | 2206 | |
| 19 | 14 | IM | Zatonskih Anna | 2371 | 10.5 | 144 | 150.5 | 2190 | |
| 20 | 12 | GM | Abdumalik Zhansaya | 2380 | 10 | 170 | 174.5 | 2281 |
(Full final standings here.)
All Women’s World Blitz Championship Games
Previous reports:
