Carlsen Claims Ninth World Blitz Title in Doha

Magnus Carlsen extended his unparalleled dominance in chess by capturing the World Blitz Championship title for the ninth time on Tuesday in Doha, Qatar, just days after securing his sixth World Rapid Championship crown. The 35-year-old Norwegian defeated Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Abdusattorov, 3-1, in the best-of-four final to claim the blitz victory, adding to his record of rapid-blitz doubles, achieved for the fifth time since 2014.

In the blitz event, players start with three minutes on the clock plus two seconds per move, demanding rapid decision-making under pressure. Carlsen faced a challenging path, suffering three losses in the 19 qualifying rounds to finish third in the standings. He advanced by beating American Fabiano Caruana, 3-1, in the semifinals. Against Abdusattorov, the 2021 rapid world champion, Carlsen lost the opening game but responded with a win in the second, a draw in the third, and a decisive victory in the fourth amid a tense endgame time scramble.

The rapid championship, held over the weekend with 15 minutes initial time plus 10 seconds per move, saw Carlsen top the regular standings with 10.5 points out of 13, a full point ahead of the field. India's...