English Chess Forum

Magnus Carlsen back in World Rapid and Blitz as Fide signals jeansgate peace

(Leonard Barden's Guardian column.)

Alex H. breathes a huge sigh of relief!

Preview:

https://en.chessbase.com/post/world-rap ... 25-preview

Rapidplay results:

https://s3.chess-results.com/tnr1313074 ... 1&SNode=S0

https://s1.chess-results.com/tnr1313075 ... 0&SNode=S0

Carlsen, Erigaisi, Vachier-Lagrave and Artemiev lead in the Open on 4.5/5. For some reason the women only at round 4? Zhu Jiner leads on 4/4.

Christopher Kreuzer wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 26, 2025 11:22 pm

For some reason the women only at round 4?

The reason is that the women play only 11 rounds in total, rather than 13. I do not know the reason for that.

No British players taking part, but I noticed one Cornish resident player who's doing quite well after 5 rounds bearing in mind his lowly seeding.

Christopher Kreuzer wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 26, 2025 11:22 pm

Carlsen, Erigaisi, Vachier-Lagrave and Artemiev lead in the Open on 4.5/5.

You missed out someone called Gukesh.

Ian Thompson wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 27, 2025 9:48 am

No British players taking part, but I noticed one Cornish resident player who's doing quite well after 5 rounds bearing in mind his lowly seeding.

Talab Rami could be the next Michael Adams, see also his impressive result in the recent Isle of Wight blitz. At 12, he is probably one of the three youngest players in the World Rapid, along with Faustino Oro and Roman Shogdzhiev.

The ECF should make it an absolute priority to get him to transfer from SYR to ENG. That single act would be a huge benefit to English junior chess.

Are you watching, Malcolm P, Alex H and Mike T?

Leonard Barden wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 27, 2025 11:10 am

Ian Thompson wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 27, 2025 9:48 am

No British players taking part, but I noticed one Cornish resident player who's doing quite well after 5 rounds bearing in mind his lowly seeding.

Talab Rami could be the next Michael Adams, see also his impressive result in the recent Isle of Wight blitz. At 12, he is probably one of the three youngest players in the World Rapid, along with Faustino Oro and Roman Shogdzhiev.

The ECF should make it an absolute priority to get him to transfer from SYR to ENG. That single act would be a huge benefit to English junior chess.

Are you watching, Malcolm P, Alex H and Mike T?

[Oro on 3/6 with two draws with Mamedyarov and Dominguez Perez, Shogdzhiev on 2/6.]

I thought Mike Truran was no longer on the ECF Board, but unless the webpage is out of date, he is still there as a Non-Executive Director and also as Past CEO Serving on Council. Still, Malcolm is hopefully aware, and also current CEO Richard Walsh and Junior Development Director Tim Wall.

Results for Rami:

https://s2.chess-results.com/tnr1313074 ... 2&SNode=S0

Drawn with a 2422 IM and beaten and drawn with 2 other IMs for 2/6 so far.

From 2023:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cornwall-65561852

Cornwall chess champion is Syrian boy Rami, 10

(The 2023 news seems to have escaped the attention of the forum.)

LawrenceCooper wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 27, 2025 10:44 am

Christopher Kreuzer wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 26, 2025 11:22 pm

Carlsen, Erigaisi, Vachier-Lagrave and Artemiev lead in the Open on 4.5/5.

You missed out someone called Gukesh.

Who almost lost his first game to someone rated 2478.

Not sure how I missed Gukesh. I think I was looking at the pairings for round 6 and forgot to check further down.

Anyway, Artemiev beat Carlsen in round 7 and has a full point lead over a chasing pack of 12 players. Artemiev has black against MVL in round 8 (of 13).

In the Women's event, Zhu Jiner has been caught and is part of a group of 8 on 5 points after 6 rounds.

After day 2, in the Open, Artemiev and Niemann in the lead on 7.5/9 and play in round 10. Four players a half point back: Carlsen, Sarana, Abdusattorov and Erdogmus.

In the Women's event, Zhu Jiner and Humpy Koneru lead with 6.5/8 and play in round 9. Chasing pack of 10 players.

Leonard Barden wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 27, 2025 11:10 am

Are you watching, Malcolm P, Alex H and Mike T?

Alex H and Mike T are not in the roles they were three months ago.

And, indeed, Alex H is in a role that arguably wants Talab not to transfer, because he would be valuable to norm events as an England-based non-ENG player.

NickFaulks wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 27, 2025 8:36 am

Christopher Kreuzer wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 26, 2025 11:22 pm

For some reason the women only at round 4?

The reason is that the women play only 11 rounds in total, rather than 13. I do not know the reason for that.

If they are playing in the same place, I could see an argument that staggering the first round makes sense, as not everyone is trying to get through security at the same time, but as this isn't the case, it's just a bit odd

Hidden away on board 19 a somewhat unusual position: https://lichess.org/broadcast/fide-worl ... 6/Y4a3vaHL

Although by now it's settled down to an equal-material position with the kings in relatively normal places.