GM Magnus Carlsen claimed his fifth Speed Chess Championship crown by defeating GM Alireza Firouzja 15-12 in the finals held live in London. The victory marks Carlsen's continued dominance in the event since its inception in 2016. Firouzja put up a strong fight, reaching the final for the second consecutive year.
The 2025 Speed Chess Championship, Chess.com's premier speed chess event, concluded with live finals on February 7-8, 2026, in London after online preliminary stages beginning October 12. Featuring time controls of 5+1, 3+1, and 1+1, the tournament offered a $250,000 prize fund and showcased top players competing to determine the world's best in rapid online formats.
Carlsen, a participant since the first edition in 2016, described the final as "probably the most fun Speed Chess Championship match I've been a part of." This win adds to his tally, tying him with GM Hikaru Nakamura as five-time champions—the only winners in the event's history. In a post-match interview, Carlsen addressed the next generation's challenge, stating, "If you look at my results in speed chess, then they haven't really declined!" He credited a blend of age and experience for his sustained performance.
Firouzja, 22, demonstrated resilience by advancing to his second straight final, though he fell short in a closer contest than the previous year's 23.5-7.5 defeat in Paris. His semifinal featured a dramatic comeback against Nakamura, securing two wins in the final five minutes to seize momentum. Meanwhile, 19-year-old GM Denis Lazavik earned third place with a narrow 13.5-12.5 victory over Nakamura, solidifying his status among speed chess elites.
The event honored the late GM Daniel Naroditsky through the newly introduced Naroditsky Cup, where winners' names will be etched on the trophy. IM Danny Rensch noted, "Every single year we will miss Danya because of who he was, what he did for this event." Finals Commissioner Michael Brancato highlighted the live format's impact: "It’s been a dream of ours to redefine the live spectator experience for chess."
Nakamura, facing setbacks including technical clock issues and a rules misunderstanding in his loss to Lazavik, acknowledged the error: "Playing endless arenas and confusing formats from event to event is simply unacceptable on my part." The broadcast was hosted by GMs Robert Hess, Eric Hansen, David Howell, IMs Danny Rensch, Levy Rozman, Anna Rudolf, and John Sargent.
