FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships Officially Opened in Samarkand
The drawing of lots was held.
Monday, December 25, the opening ceremony of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships took place in Samarkand at the Silk Road by Minyoun Hotel. It was preceded by a press conference, participating in which were the Minister of Youth Policy and Sports of Uzbekistan Adham Ikramov, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, President of the Uzbekistan Chess Federation Alisher Sadullaev, the world's strongest chess player, the current World Rapid and Blitz Champion Magnus Carlsen and the 2021 World Rapid Champion, Olympic champion as a member of the Uzbekistan national team Nodirbek Abdusattorov. The press conference stirred great interest among media representatives, and the speakers had to answer numerous questions from journalists.
During the opening ceremony the drawing of lots took place. Magnus Carlsen, top seed of both open tournaments, drew white twice, so players with odd numbers will start as White in the first round of both the Rapid and Blitz Championships. In the women's competition, Ju Wenjun drew white for Rapid and Lei Tingjie drew black for Blitz.
Ballet dancers and opera singer Zhenisbek Piyazov performed in the concert part of the evening.
Official website
Tournament page
Photo album by Eteri Kublashvili
Photos by Vladimir Barsky
