Carlsen shares World Blitz title with Nepomniachtchi

World No.1 sealed pact with Russian after 7 games in the final to share a global title for the first time

- HT Correspondent

BENGALURU: For the first time, a world title in chess has been shared and for the second time in the course of a week, governing body Fide has allowed world No.1 Magnus Carlsen to call the shots in the World Rapid and Blitz Championship.

After seven rounds of play in the final between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Carlsen in New York on Tuesday, the scores were tied 3.5-3.5 and the Norwegian was seen asking Nepomniachtchi if he would be okay to share the title. The Russian GM promptly agreed. According to the regulations, the players have to keep playing on until there's a winner and the final decision in case of an unforeseen circumstance rests with the Fide president.

Four of the seven games they played in the final were decisive, so there was little to suggest that there wouldn't have been a result soon enough. In what could be seen as a match-fixing attempt, Carlsen was captured on video suggesting to Nepomniachtchi that should Fide refuse the idea they could "play short draws till they give up".