Chess World Outraged as Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi Share Blitz Title

The chess world is in uproar after Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi agreed to share the World Blitz Championship title at the FIDE Rapid and Blitz Championship in New York. The decision followed a series of drawn tiebreak games after the two were tied 2-2 in the finals.

A viral video added fuel to the controversy, showing Carlsen suggesting to Nepo that if FIDE refused their request to share the title, they could play "short draws until they give up."

The backlash was immediate. US Grandmaster Hans Niemann called for an investigation, accusing the players of breaking rules and criticizing FIDE for being influenced by Carlsen. Former world champion Vladimir Kramnik and other grandmasters also lambasted FIDE for failing to anticipate such a scenario in the tournament regulations.

Indian GM Srinath Narayanan compared the incident to major sporting events, pointing out that top athletes like Novak Djokovic in Wimbledon 2019 fought until the end, rather than settling for a shared title.

Critics argue that Carlsen and Nepo’s actions undermine the integrity of the game, with many calling for stricter rules to prevent similar occurrences in the future.