Definition of World Blitz Chess Championship

The World Blitz Chess Championship, organized annually by FIDE (the International Chess Federation) is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the chess world. The event determines the best player in blitz chess - a fast-paced format, where players have limited time to complete their moves. Established in 2006, it replaced earlier prestigious blitz events that lacked official world championship status.

In the World Blitz Chess Championship each player starts with 3 minutes per game, plus a 2-second increment per move. This fast pace tests quick thinking, accuracy, and composure under pressure. The tournament follows a Swiss-system format, typically featuring 15 to 21 rounds, with players paired against opponents of similar scores after each round.

Points are awarded as follows:

1 point for a win,
0.5 points for a draw,
0 points for a loss.
Tiebreaks, such as additional blitz or Armageddon games, are used to decide the champion in case of ties.

The event is open to the world's top players, including qualifiers, national champions, and regional representatives. There is also a separate Women's World Blitz Chess Championship with a similar structure.

Blitz chess demands quick decision-making, often relying on intuition over deep calculation. Its unpredictability, tactical surprises, and time scrambles make it thrilling to watch. Held alongside the World Rapid Chess Championship, the event creates a multi-day celebration of fast chess.

Magnus Carlsen, one of the greatest chess players of all time, has won multiple World Blitz Chess Championship titles.