Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi agreed to share the World Blitz Championship title. (PHOTOS: FIDE via Lennart Ootes and Michal Walusza)
Magnus Carlsen and Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi opted to share World Blitz Championship title after three sudden-death games failed to produce a winner.
Magnus Carlsen won the first two games in the final against Ian Nepomniachtchi and needed just a draw in the third game to seal another World Blitz title. But Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi made a comeback by winning two games, thus levelling the score at 2-2. The final would thus have to be decided in a tiebreak.
When three sudden-death games, neither player managed to secure a win, with all three games ending in draws. Magnus Carlsen then suggested sharing the title with his opponent.
Why did Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi agree to share the title?
“People should, of course, understand that we are both tired and nervous. Some people are going to like it; some are not going to like it. Is the way it is,” Magnus Carlsen said in the post-match press conference with Ian Nepomniachtchi seated next to him.
This is the first time in history that two players have shared the World Blitz title in scenes reminiscent of Mutaz Barshim and Gianmarco Tamberi agreeing to share the Olympic gold in the high jump event at Tokyo 2020.
WATCH: Carlsen asks Nepo to share title
Magnus Carlsen suggested to Ian Nepomniachtchi to share the first place! #RapidBlitz pic.twitter.com/GILoLJai58
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) December 31, 2024
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Carlsen explained his rationale in offering to share the title.
“At that point (when he suggested the draw) we had already played for a very long time. I was very happy to end it. I thought at that point it would have been very, very cruel on both of us if one came first and another second. That’s why I thought it was a reasonable solution.”
Magnus Carlsen on his proposal for splitting the World Champion title. #RapidBlitz pic.twitter.com/pJegaHAm1Y
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) January 1, 2025
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“It feels very good to share gold with Nepo. We reached a point where it had been a long day. We played many games, we had three draws and I felt that I could keep playing. But it was a nice solution to share the win, it was a good way to end it,” Magnus Carlsen told Norwegian media outlet NRK.
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