Hong Kong will stage the fourth edition of the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships from June 17 to 21, 2026, marking the event's first venture into East Asia. The tournament will feature teams blending professional players like Magnus Carlsen with amateurs, including at least one female and one recreational participant per side. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich highlighted the event's role in fostering global connections among diverse participants.
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has announced that Hong Kong will host the 2026 edition of its World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships, expanding the competition's footprint to East Asia for the first time. Scheduled for June 17 to 21, the event follows previous outings in Dusseldorf in 2023, Astana in 2024, and London in 2025. It combines rapid and blitz formats, with scoring based on match points, and requires each team to include at least one female player and one recreational player—defined as someone who has never achieved a 2000 Elo rating in standard, rapid, or blitz play.
FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich expressed enthusiasm for the choice of venue, stating, “We are proud and delighted to bring the fourth edition of the event to the world. As we have seen in previous WRB Teams, this is more than a tournament. The competition attracts players and fans from different cultural and professional backgrounds, helping build connections and creating opportunities.” He further noted Hong Kong's growing prominence in chess hosting, adding, “This is the first time Hong Kong will host a major global chess event and it is important to us to use the opportunity to promote the tournament, chess and the host city to a new audience.”
The championships draw teams from corporate and sports sectors worldwide, mixing high-stakes play with enjoyment. WR Chess, a dominant force since the event's inception, has revealed key members for future participation, including Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and Hou Yifan. Hong Kong's recent chess events underscore its readiness: the 2025 Hong Kong International Open attracted over 400 players, including more than 80 titled ones, while the 2025 Eastern Asia Juniors and Girls Chess Championships took place at Queen Elizabeth Stadium.
Past editions provide context for the format. The 2023 inaugural rapid-only tournament, a 12-round Swiss system, was won by WR Chess. In 2024, the addition of blitz—featuring pool round-robins followed by a 16-team knockout—saw Al Ain ACMG from the UAE claim the rapid title, with WR Chess taking blitz. The 2025 structure remained similar, with Team MGD1 winning rapid and WR Chess securing blitz again. Further details on regulations and prize funds are pending.
