FIDE World Blitz Chess Championship 2025 -Day 1 recap

Hello everyone.
Today was first day of FIDE World Blitz Championship 2025.
In open section total of 19 rounds of blitz in Swiss system is played as 13 Round of Blitz was played today and tomorrow 6 more rounds will conclude first stage. Tomorrow after 19 round is completed best 4 will go into finals and play knockout system. In women section total of 15 round is played with 10 rounds played today and 5 more tomorrow. Same 4 player knock out system tomorrow after 15 round of blitz is completed.

Time mode is 3 + 2 and even on this level you can see blunders and last minutes moves, missed opportunities and super saves by the players.
It was interesting to watch some games.

Standings after 13 rounds in open section.

Photo from lichess.org

Arjun, MVL and Caruana are leaders with 10 points each. Followed by 6 players with 9.5 points. Interesting is next group with 11 players that have 9 points. Magnus Carlsen is in this group of players. 6 more games to for all to secure top 4 spot and knock out stage of the tournament.

One move blunder

This was interesting game between GM Alireza Firouzja and GM Vahap Şanal in round 2. It was on broadcast where GM Vahap Şanal was winning as white. Then one move blunder finished the game and GM Alireza Firouzja won.

This was position and as you can see evaluation bar, white is winning.
Alireza attacked bishop on f2. In order to save bishop knight move was played.

But knight to d2 was blunder and it hanged the Queen on f6 which Alireza took immediately.
Correct move was knight to e4. With this move everything is protected and white keeps its advantage.

After Alireza Firouzja took Queen on f6 Vahap Şanal resigned.
Nice game as one in blitz can be.

Game link :
https://lichess.org/broadcast/fide-world-rapid--blitz-championships-2025--blitz-open-1-30/round-2/9K8UaJeP/soTxLE72

Women section standings after 15 rounds

Photo from lichess.org

IM Eline Roebers is leading women section with 8.5 points from 10 rounds. A bit surprise name for me at least. Next three players have 8 points each. GM Aleksandra Goryachkina who won Rapind section of 2025 championship leads the group of three. WIM Umida Omonova and GM Antoaneta Stefanova are next two players with 8 points.
5 rounds more to be played tomorrow.
Can IM Eline Roebers keep the lead and win it all in the end or GM Aleksandra Goryachkina will go for crown in Blitz section as well?
Quite interesting day tomorrow with first goal to reach top 4 and then in knock out stage everyone can beat everyone.

What a save

Here there was nice game from the first round. As there was end game played between WGM Luong Phuong Hanh and GM Ju Wenjun. In time scramble WGM Luong Phuong Hanh managed to get stalemate.

This was position after 73 moves. White is winning with two knights and two pawns. And GM Ju Wenjun played knight move which was blunder. Both players were low on time. 7 seconds and 5 seconds for WGM Luong Phuong Hanh.

After knight to g4 by Ju Wenjun, Luong Phuong Hanh responded with knight f6,forking King and the knight.

Move your king and your knight is gone or take the knight with knight and it is stalemate.

Ju Wenjun took the knight and that lead to the stalemate. Nice move by Luong Phuong Hanh. After the move it seemed that Luong Phuong Hanh can not believe that she managed to pull that off. What a game and move to start the Blitz section.

Game link :
https://lichess.org/broadcast/fide-world-rapid--blitz-championships-2025--blitz-women/round-1/CcdhDixn/8GA4UJIs

All in all tomorrow many good games today and decisive day tomorrow for all players as there are 6 rounds in open and 5 rounds in woman section to be played.
Lets see who wins in both section.