Organized by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and the Hong Kong China Chess Federation, the “FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2026” will be held in Hong Kong for the very first time, taking place from 17 to 21 June 2026 at Queen Elizabeth Stadium.
The tournament convenes 48 teams and over 300 top-tier chess players from around the globe, with both its star-studded lineup and scale marking the grandest edition in the event’s history. This includes eight of the world’s top ten men’s players and seven of the world’s top ten women’s players, all competing for a total prize purse of €500,000. The event will attract players and tourists from more than 50 countries and regions, significantly boosting the development of the city’s sports tourism and related industries and further solidifying Hong Kong’s position as a centre for major international sports events.
At today’s pre-tournament press conference (16 June), Lei Tingjie, the women’s world no.2 representing Dragon Chilling, and Levon Aronian, representing Hexamind Chess Team, both attended the event in person.
Dragon Chilling has one of the most attractive national-style lineups, led by Ding Liren, Wei Yi, Yu Yangyi, Ju Wenjun, and Lei Tingjie. The biggest news is the return of former World Champion Ding Liren, who has largely retreated from the chess world after 2024. The World Rapid and Blitz Teams in Hong Kong will be the first time since 2024 that Ding plays in a major international event with super-elite players.
Lei Tingjie, said, “I think it’s wonderful to play together. We wanted a name deeply rooted in Chinese culture, and since the dragon is a prominent animal in the Chinese zodiac, that is exactly where the name ‘Dragon Chilling’ came from.”
Hexamind Chess Team features a lineup of elite players, including Levon Aronian, Anish Giri, Alireza Firouzja, Vidit Gujrathi, Kateryna Lagno, and the 2024 World Rapid Champion Volodar Murzin. In 2025, they took silver in the Rapid and bronze in the Blitz in London.
Levon Aronian, said, “Our team has a great atmosphere with a genuine desire to help each other. When players are sharing ideas like this, I think that makes all the difference. I’m really looking forward to competing in such a beautiful city.”
Six Hong Kong teams will compete, providing local players with a rare and invaluable opportunity to compete alongside the world’s elite.
Mixed Team Format with Total Prize Fund €500,000
Following three successful editions in Düsseldorf (2023), Astana (2024), and London (2025), the championship returns with an exciting format: mixed teams where elite professionals and recreational players compete side by side across rapid, and blitz events. Every match is played on six boards, and each team must include at least one female player and at least one recreational player, defined as someone who has never achieved a FIDE rating of 2000 or higher in standard, rapid, or blitz.
The FIDE World Team Rapid Chess Championship will be played as a 12-round Swiss tournament across three days (June 17-19), with four rounds per day and a time control of 15 minutes for the whole game plus a 10-second increment per move. The FIDE World Team Blitz Chess Championship follows on June 20 and 21, beginning with pool stages before moving to a knockout format for the top 16 teams, with a time control of 3 minutes plus a 2-second increment per move.
The total prize fund across both championships is €500,000. The Rapid Champion team will receive €110,000, with the Blitz Champion team taking home €75,000.
Inaugural FIDE World Team Amateur Rapid Chess Cup 2026
In addition to the main event, the inaugural FIDE World Amateur Team Rapid Chess Championship will take place from June 18 to 21. Specifically designed for amateur enthusiasts, this tournament provides a unique platform for diverse teams, chess clubs, and local organizations to participate in this prestigious global chess event. A total of 40 amateur teams will compete for the title. Each team is composed of six players. All participants must have never achieved a FIDE rating of 2000 or higher in standard, rapid, or blitz. The tournament will follow the Rapid format, with 15 minutes for the whole game plus a 10-second increment per move. The tournament will be conducted in two stages, culminating in a final showdown to determine the champions. The total prize fund is €25,000. The Champion team will receive €10,000.
Tournament Village Open to the Public for free
During the tournament, a dedicated Tournament Village will be open to the public for free, inviting visitors of all ages to ignite their strategic thinking. The Village is partitioned into three premier thematic zones—traditional mind sports, emerging intellectual activities, and a diverse tabletop gaming experience—to ignite the intellect of visitors across all generations. In a landmark collaboration, the event will also play host to the 2nd Asian Mind Sports Carnival, organized in conjunction with the Asian Mind Sports Association. This prestigious assembly is set to convene an illustrious field of over 1,000 elite competitors from across the continent. Participants will engage in high-level exchanges across more than ten disciplines, including Chess, Bridge, Go, Xiangqi, and the Rubik’s Cube, collectively illustrating the multifaceted allure of intellectual discipline. Get set to immerse yourself in the unique charm and intellectual thrill of mind sports this June.
Tickets Now On Sale
The public can now secure their tickets via the official ticketing platform www.urbtix.hk. One day tickets range from HK$250 to HK$380. Package Deals are available: 3-day Rapid Chess package (June 17-19) HK$688; 2-day Blitz Chess package (June 20-21) HK$538; 5-day All Access package (June 17-21) HK$1,088.
Schedule: https://worldrapidblitzteams2026.fide.com/schedule
Registered Teams Rapid: https://worldrapidblitzteams2026.fide.com/rapid_teams
Registered Teams Blitz: https://worldrapidblitzteams2026.fide.com/blitz_teams
Participating world’s top ten players (men)
| World Ranking | Name | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlsen, Magnus | WR Chess |
| 2 | Caruana, Fabiano | WR Chess |
| 4 | Sindarov, Javokhir | Uzbekistan |
| 5 | Abdusattorov, Nodirbek | Uzbekistan |
| 7 | Giri, Anish | Hexamind Chess Team |
| 8 | Erigaisi Arjun | Team MGD1 |
| 9 | So, Wesley | WR Chess |
| 10 | Wei, Yi | Dragon Chilling |
Participating world’s top ten players (women)
| World Ranking | Name | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hou, Yifan | WR Chess |
| 2 | Lei, Tingjie | Dragon Chilling |
| 3 | Ju, Wenjun | Dragon Chilling |
| 4 | Zhu, Jiner | Endgame.AI |
| 6 | Koneru, Humpy | Chess United |
| 7 | Assaubayeva, Bibisara | Kazchess |
| 10 | Lagno, Kateryna | Hexamind Chess Team |
