An Uneasy Truce For months, it remained unclear whether the world’s top-rated chess player would even show up in Doha. Magnus Carlsen’s relationship with the International Chess Federation (FIDE) had deteriorated significantly, reaching a low point during the 2024 Rapid tournament. That event ended in acrimony after Carlsen was fined for wearing jeans, a dispute that prompted him to withdraw and publicly question his future participation in FIDE-sanctioned events. Despite that “dress code” debacle and the lingering friction, the Norwegian grandmaster appeared at the opening press conference in the Qatari capital, ready to compete. Carlsen clarified that his presence isn’t the result of a new agreement with the governing body, but rather a testament to his strong relationship with the local organizers in Doha, with whom he and his family are on good terms. Furthermore, he emphasized a sense of duty to the television audience back in Norway, where the holiday chess broadcasts have become a staple of the season.
Dominant but Wary Entering the tournament as the undisputed world number one in both rapid and blitz formats, Carlsen is looking to add to his staggering collection of 13 world titles in these disciplines—a tally that exceeds the combined haul of his rivals. Even at 35, an age where many top players begin to slow down, Carlsen has shown no signs of decline. His 2025 season was prolific, yielding eight tournament victories across various formats. He maintains that he competes to challenge himself, and as long as his physical conditioning holds, he remains a dangerous opponent. However, he views the field with a pragmatic eye. While some big names are missing—notably Hikaru Nakamura, who is sitting out after recently becoming a father—Carlsen identifies Alireza Firouzja as a significant threat capable of causing him serious trouble. Beyond the established elite, he predicts a wide-open contest where consistency and daily form will determine the winner.
A More Grueling Format A major talking point for Carlsen heading into this year’s championship is the restructuring of the Blitz format. The tournament has expanded to 19 preliminary rounds, up from just 13 the previous year, with the top four players advancing to a knockout phase. Carlsen has been a vocal critic of the shorter format, arguing that 13 rounds made the proceedings too frantic and reliant on luck. He explicitly welcomed the expansion, noting that the longer grind makes the event fairer and eliminates excuses; anyone who fails to crack the top four after 19 games simply wasn’t good enough. This focus on sporting integrity caps off a milestone year for the grandmaster personally. Aside from his competitive success, including a perfect 9-for-9 performance at the Grenke Freestyle Open, Carlsen married in January and welcomed a son in September.
The Wider Field Action kicks off on December 26 at 12:00 PM local time, with play scheduled to span three days. While Carlsen headlines the Open section, the women’s bracket sees reigning World Champion Ju Wenjun leading the seeding list. The German delegation, though smaller than at the World Cup, features some notable talent. Vincent Keymer, the 2022 World Rapid runner-up, leads the group, joined by national team regulars Rasmus Svane and Alexander Donchenko. They are accompanied by International Master Florian Grafl, rated 2343, rounding out a contingent looking to make their mark against the world’s best in Qatar.
