Two teams assembled by the Kazakhstan Chess Federation for the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Championships-2026 did not reach the prize places in the rapid event. Both teams scored 15 points. On tiebreaks, 'Kazchess' finished 8th, 'Barys' 12th. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

Gold went to the Chinese team 'Dragon Chilling', which led almost the entire distance. The winners include chess queen Ju Wenjun, former world champion Ding Liren, as well as strong players Wei Yi, Lei Tingjie, and Yu Yangyi.

Silver medals were won by last year's rapid champions 'Team MGD1' from India. Bronze went to 'Hexamind Chess Team', for which Kazakh amateur Murat Omarov plays; he is currently studying in London.

After the first day, 'Kazchess' led with a perfect score of four wins in four matches. After the second day, they dropped to fourth. On the final day of the rapid tournament, defeats to the international team 'Mr Birdie and Friends' and Azerbaijan's 'Odlar Yurdu' proved fatal.

In the blitz event, 'Kazchess' will be represented by Bibisara Assaubayeva, Kazybek Nogerbek, Aldiyar Ansat, Meruert Kamalidenova, and amateur Kumar Tyulyupov. Also playing are renowned legionnaires: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov from Azerbaijan, Russian Alexander Grischuk, Richard Rapport from Hungary, and Chinese Wang Hao.

The second team, playing under the name 'Barys', was in third place after two days but eventually dropped to 12th. The team includes experienced Russian grandmasters Peter Svidler and Dmitry Andreikin, as well as young Kazakh players Denis Makhnev, Ramazan Zhalmakhanov, Daniyal Sapenov, Yergali Suleimen, Ksenia Balabayeva, Alua Nurman, and amateur Ailin Zarkym.

The blitz tournament, starting tomorrow, is held in a two-stage system. The first stage consists of 11 Swiss rounds. The top 16 teams then advance to the playoffs, where winners and medalists are determined by an Olympic system.

The 48 teams participating in the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships include players from different countries. However, the regulations do not prohibit players from the same country playing on one team.

Team matches are played on six boards, including a mandatory woman (board 5) and an amateur player with a rating below 2000 (board 6).

The World Team Rapid and Blitz Championship has been organized by FIDE since 2023. The first edition was held in Düsseldorf, followed by Astana and London.

Last year, the blitz tournament was won by 'WR Chess', which defeated 'Kazchess' in the final.