Two heroes: how Jan Nepomnyashchy finally became world champion
The current year 2025 has only just begun, but it has already presented an incredible sporting story. The Norwegian Magnus Carlsen and the Russian Jan Nepomnyashchy shared the title of world blitz champion, which ended in New York on the night of January 1. And this is the first such case in the history of chess. The women's tournament was won by China's Ju Wenjun, while Russia's Ekaterina Lagno took third place. The Open Rapid World Cup was won by Russian Volodar Murzin.
A thorny path
Jan Nepomnyashchy has been very close to the title of world champion several times. In classical control it still hurts to remember the Russian's match with Ding Lizhen in Astana in April 2023. In rapid chess, Jan finished second twice - at the 2013 and 2021 World Chess Championships and was vice-champion in the 2014 blitz tournament. In 2021 Nepomnyashchy was stopped by 17-year-old Nodirbek Abdusattorov, who was then far from joining the elite. At the 2022 Fischer Chess World Cup in Reykjavik, Jan stopped Magnus Carlsen in the semi-finals, but lost to Hikaru Nakamura in an armageddon in the decisive mini-match. And now finally the long-awaited success.
But first things first. Jan finished first at the end of the first day. Immediately 10 chess players scored 9.5 points each, but Daniel Naroditsky and Daniil Dubov were not selected for the play-offs on additional indicators.
In the quarterfinals of the Open Tournament Nepomnyashchy beat his compatriot Volodar Murzin (2.5:0.5), Wesley So was stronger than Alireza Firoudji (3:1), Jan-Krzysztof Duda defeated Fabiano Caruana (2.5:0.5), and Magnus Carlsen beat Hans Niemann with great difficulty (2.5:1.5). After a measured draw in the first game, Hans confidently outplayed Magnus in the second, after which Carlsen had to perform a small sporting feat by winning the remaining two games.
In the semi-final Magnus easily outplayed Dudu (3-0), but Nepomnyashchy and So played a crazy mini-match. The American chess player won the first game, drew the second and almost sealed the world title in the third, but he botched a tactical shot on an almost empty board. The score was equalized, and after a draw in the fourth game, the participants went to a tie-break. According to the tie-break rules, the chess players played one game each until the first effective game. After the draw, the white color went to Jan, which he successfully used, gradually outplaying Wesley.
The emotions of the Russian had to be seen. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. However, there was no time to rejoice for long. Fifteen minutes later the final match with Carlsen, who had agreed at the last moment to play in the World Blitz Championship (after his demarche from the World Rapid Championship), began.
The decisive confrontation seemed to follow the most predictable scenario. Magnus routinely won the two opening games and was within half a point of his eighth title and third in a row. However, the Russian grandmaster managed to turn the tide and do the almost impossible - he beat the reigning world blitz champion two games in a row and evened the score.
According to the tie-break rules, the chess players had to play until the first successful game - no armageddon was envisaged in the regulation this time. After agreeing to a draw in the third game, Magnus suggested discussing the possibility of a mutual championship, which was eventually approved by both Jan and the organizers.
- I suggested sharing the championship when I realized that we had been playing for a very long time," Carlsen told a press conference. - At that moment I wished it would all be over soon. And I thought it would be very cruel for both of us if someone ends up first and someone else second. And I realized that it would be a rational decision. I think the fans will realize that we're both very tired and nervous. Some will approve of this result, and some will not like it.
Two medals each
Nothing like this has ever happened in the history of the World Blitz Championships. Carlsen and Nepomnyashchy together became world champions in 2024. So Jan leaves New York with bronze in Rapid and gold in Blitz. And also with the long-awaited status of world champion. This is the most important thing in this story.
- Did I believe that Jan would be able to bounce back from 0:2 to Magnus? It's a difficult question, but my friends and I watched the broadcast until the very end," Nepomnyashchy's manager Zoya Arnatskaya told Izvestia. - When Ian equalized and Magnus began to force a draw, it became alarming. But there are two pieces of good news here. First: Magnus can afford to dictate the FIDE rules. The second: we now have two world champions. Carlsen, who is in great shape, and our favorite Jan.
According to Arnacka, many of his friends have already congratulated Nepomnyashchy on this achievement - after all, he has had a lot of titles, but he has never managed to reach the title of world champion.
- It took him a long time to get to this point, so he's very pleased," said the Izvestia interlocutor. - Yes, fatigue does not allow him to realize this success in the full sense. Still, the final day was very long for our grandmaster. There was a tough match with So, then Carlsen. We are pleased that so many people are happy about this event. Still, despite all the sanctions, Jan continued to stay in Russia. This is our chess player 100%.
In the women's playoffs, Ekaterina Lagno won her match against Carissa Yip (2.5:1.5), Valentina Gunina lost to Ju Wenjun (0.5:2.5), Rameshbabu Vaishali defeated Zhu Jin'er (2.5:1.5), and Bibisara Asaubaeva lost to Lei Tingjie (1.5:2.5).
In the semifinals, Lagno lost the second extra game to Lei Tingjie and became the bronze medalist of the championship along with Rameshbabu Vaishali, who lost to Ju Wenjun. The World Blitz champion was Ju Wenjun who defeated Lei Tingjie (3.5:2.5).
- I am proud that our sport has brought Russia its first medals in international competitions in 2025," Andrei Filatov, head of the Russian Chess Federation, told Izvestia. - I hope that there will be more such victories. For the first time in history, the chess players agreed to share first place, and Jan Nepomnyashchy, who had been working towards this for so long, became world blitz champion on a par with Magnus Carlsen. The Russian was able to win back in the toughest match situation and rightfully won the title.
Ekaterina Lagno also showed outstanding results at the World Rapid and Blitz Championships, winning medals in each discipline. As a mother of many children, she has been among the chess elite for many years and has won awards at the world's biggest competitions. In her professionalism Ekaterina is an example for many chess players.
It should be noted that Nepomnyashchy (gold in Blitz, bronze in Rapid) and Lagno (two bronze medals) are leaving New York with two medals. Russia's Volodar Murzin won the Open Rapid World Cup, while India's Hampi Koneru won the women's Open World Cup.
