CHESS: Peerless Carlsen completes fifth rapid and blitz double

Magnus Carlsen’s dominance in chess showed no sign of slowing as the world number one captured the blitz world championship title for the ninth time on Tuesday, just two days after winning the rapid title.

The Norwegian defeated Uzbek grandmaster Nodirbek Abdusattorov 2.5-1.5 in the final in Doha, securing his fifth rapid and blitz double, a feat he previously achieved in 2014, 2019, 2022, and 2023.

Carlsen, who gave up his regular world chess champion title citing a lack of motivation after winning it in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2021, and stating he would not compete for it again, overcame a slow start in the 19 opening games to reach the semifinals.

He beat American Fabiano Caruana 3-1 in the semis before dropping the first game of the best-of-four final against 21-year-old Abdusattorov. The 35-year-old Carlsen, who also won the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam title this year, bounced back in the second game and, after a draw in the third, maintained his composure during the fourth-game time scramble to secure victory in the endgame.

In the women’s competition, Uzbekistan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva defeated Ukrainian Anna Muzychuk 2.5-1.5 in the final to claim the title.

-Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Ed Osmond/Reuters