New Delhi: A controversy has erupted after grandmasters Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi were jointly awarded the World Blitz Championship 2024 title on Wednesday, January 01. Carlsen and Nepomniachtchi have been accused of ‘fixing’ the final which ended in a no-result as the two players agreed to a tie after seven rounds.
Carlsen and Nepomniachtchi being awarded the title jointly became the first instance of the World Blitz Championship title being shared between the two players. Though the decision to award the title to both players jointly was approved by the FIDE, the world chess governing body, it has sparked widespread criticism with many questioning the integrity of the competition.
To further add fuel to the fire, a clip of Carlsen and Nepomniachtchi’s backstage chat during the final has taken the social media by storm. During their chat, the two players can be heard agreeing to play ‘short draws’ in the final till FIDE gives up and decides to award the title jointly. The video has led to accusations of ‘match-fixing’ against Carlsen and Nepomniachtchi.
“Just play short draws until they give up,” Carlsen can be heard telling Nepomniachtchi in the clip. Several fans lashed out at the duo for ‘fixing’ the final by pre-deciding on playing intentional draws. “They clearly talked about fixing the match… it’s caught on camera! Disgraceful,” Wrote a fan.
“It’s wrong, of course, at many levels. It also shows Magnus’s instinct to resort to blackmail if Fide insists on following the regulations,” said Indian chess grandmaster Srinath Narayanan.
Magnus : “If they like refuse, we can just play short draws until they give up.”
Isn’t this match-fixing, @FIDE_chess? Dubov & Nepo were double forfeited last year for pre-arranging a draw, why wasn’t similar action taken this time around? pic.twitter.com/WjyteaztLi
— Abhiraj (@mytywarriorking) January 1, 2025
They clearly talked about fixing the match..!!
Its caught on camera.!!
Disgraceful.!@HansMokeNiemann @chess_insights @GMHikaru @anishgiri https://t.co/nmPmENK2AP
— Izanami (@_Mithya_Lost) January 1, 2025
It’s wrong, of course, at many levels. It also shows Magnus’s instinct to resort to blackmail if Fide insists on following the regulations.https://t.co/YXaxfAwHKU
Where does power reside in the chess world, in 2024 or 2025? https://t.co/IVCb76yX7a
— Srinath Narayanan (@srinathchess) January 1, 2025
This is Match fixing! and should not be tolerated. Have some spine FIDE and take the necessary action. https://t.co/5nwCiW0cYF
— Plutoreviews (@Plutoreviews) January 1, 2025
In a clip that has gone viral on social media, Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi can be heard agreeing to play ‘short draws’ in their backstage chat during the final of the ‘Open’ section of the World Blitz Chess Championship 2024. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
