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India’s Team MGD1 Clinches 2025 FIDE World Rapid Team Championship in London.

Sports | Dated: 18 Jun 2025

At the FIDE World Rapid Team Championship 2025, held in London from June 11–13, Team MGD1 (Team MGD1 is a chess team) from India made history by becoming the first Indian side to win the Rapid Team title. Outperforming 52 international teams across a demanding 12-round Swiss format, they secured top honours with 21 match points out of a possible 24.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - Competing in a field of over 50 teams from around the world, Team MGD1 won 10 matches, drew 1, and lost only 1, finishing with a commanding 21 match points. Consistency and resilience defined their performance.
  • - On the climactic final day, Team MGD1 delivered a perfect performance—winning all 4 matches—to edge past rivals like Hexamind Chess Team, who gathered 20 match points.
  • - The team featured top Indian grandmasters such as Arjun Erigaisi, Pentala Harikrishna, Leon Luke Mendonca, Pranav Venkatesh, along with amateur board player Atharvaa P Tayade, whose remarkable 11/12 score greatly bolstered the team effort.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) Their victory was sealed with a tight 3.5–2.5 win over UK-based Malcolm’s Mates in the final round, underscoring their nerves and strategy under high-stakes pressure.
  • (ii) No Indian-sponsored team had previously won the FIDE World Rapid Team Championship. Team MGD1 joins elite status alongside international teams, enhancing India’s global chess credentials.
  • (iii) This edition was part of the wider FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Team Championships, held from June 10–16 at Novotel London West. The tournament featured top global talent, including both grandmasters and amateurs, with a total prize pool of €310,000 for Rapid events.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Which Indian team recently became the first from India to win the FIDE World Rapid Team Championship 2025?

Correct Answer: Team MGD1

🚀 Quick Recap:

About FIDE

  • President: Arkady Dvorkovich
  • Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland