Dragon Chilling completed a golden double at the FIDE World Team Blitz Championship, finishing a dramatic final day at Queen Elizabeth Stadium by defeating Endgame.AI in the title match. The victory marked a milestone for the event, with the report noting it was the first time a team from China has won the WTRBСС.
The closing day delivered a sequence of upsets, tie-breaks and sudden swings, with several favourites eliminated before the medal matches. Behind Dragon Chilling, Endgame.AI finished second to take €50,000, while Uzbekistan claimed bronze and €30,000 after a decisive tie-break performance against Hexamind. Hexamind placed fourth for €20,000, and WR Chess—top-rated and defending the 2025 Blitz crown—ended fifth for €15,000 after being knocked out in the quarter-finals.
Quarter-finals: shocks, a playoff, and WR Chess eliminated
The day began with a traditional first move ceremony on the top boards. Alpha Lau, Director General of Investment Promotion of Hong Kong, and Dr. (as listed in the source), a member of the Board of Directors of Hong Kong Science and Technology, took part in the ceremonial start. The ceremonial move was made in a game from the Uzbekistan vs WR Chess quarter-final clash.
That quarter-final immediately produced a major shock. Uzbekistan defeated WR Chess 3.5:2.5 in the opening match, with strong results on the lower boards. WR Chess pushed back in the return match, but Magnus Carlsen lost to Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and the match finished 3:3—sending Uzbekistan through and eliminating one of the tournament favourites from the medal race.
Elsewhere, Endgame.AI knocked out Team MGD1. Led by (name not fully visible in the supplied text), Endgame.AI won the first match 3.5:2.5 and then held the return match to secure a semi-final place. Hexamind advanced by defeating Chessgurukul 3.5:2.5 in both matches. Dragon Chilling faced the tightest route: they had to survive the only quarter-final playoff, coming from behind against Mr Birdie and Friends before winning the tie-break 4:2.
The 5th–8th place playoffs produced an unusual sight, with Magnus Carlsen and other star names (as referenced in the source) playing for positions outside the medals. WR Chess eventually secured fifth place after defeating Team MGD1 in a tie-break, but the day ended in disappointment for the top-rated team, with the report noting Carlsen suffered three defeats on the final day.
Semi-finals: traded blows and tie-break drama
In the semi-finals, Dragon Chilling and Uzbekistan exchanged heavy blows across the two matches. Dragon Chilling won the first match 4.5:1.5, only for Uzbekistan to respond with the same 4.5:1.5 score in the return match. The tie-break decided it: Dragon Chilling found their rhythm again and won 4.5:1.5 to reach the final.
The second semi-final also swung sharply. Hexamind edged the first match against Endgame.AI after (player name not fully visible in the supplied text) defeated (opponent name not fully visible) in a bishop endgame. Endgame.AI responded with a crushing 5:1 victory in the return match, then won the tie-break 4:2 to book a place in the final.
The bronze-medal match delivered another turnaround. Uzbekistan lost the first match to Hexamind 4:2, then struck back 3.5:2.5 to force tie-breaks. In the tie-break, Uzbekistan dominated 5.5:0.5 to secure third place and the €30,000 prize, leaving Hexamind fourth with €20,000.
Final: Dragon Chilling overwhelm Endgame.AI to clinch the title
The final between Dragon Chilling and Endgame.AI opened with a key result on board one: former World Champion Ding Liren defeated Hans Niemann. Dragon Chilling carried that momentum through the match to win 5:1, putting Endgame.AI under immediate pressure.
The second match confirmed the direction of the final. Ding drew his game, while his teammates (names listed in the source but not fully visible in the supplied text) scored victories. Yu Yangyi drew the last game against Alexey Sarana as Dragon Chilling sealed the match and completed the golden double in Hong Kong.
After the victory, Dragon Chilling’s captain (name not fully visible in the supplied text) said: “We prepared for a long time and played as a family; we are a family.”
At the closing ceremony, FIDE Deputy President (name not fully visible in the supplied text) praised Hong Kong’s role as host, saying: “Hong Kong did not simply host the event – it embraced it, lifted it, and gave it a stage worthy of the world’s best players.” He also underlined a broader message: “Chess does not belong only to the elite. It belongs to clubs, schools, families, local communities and every player who loves the game.”
The source also reported results from another section of the event: Golden Stars from Vietnam won first place after an Armageddon showdown with Pool B winners Bosoo Noyon, while Hong Kong Young Dragons took bronze with a 3.5:2.5 win over Team Sky.
