"VAN" (Sports Desk - 05.08.2024) :: Dubov's redemption in the final round secured Al-Ain's World Rapid Team victory. Decade China, led by World Champion Ding Liren, took second place, while last year's winners, WR Chess, secured the bronze.
After three days and 12 rounds, featuring many of the world's top players, Al-Ain ACMG UAE emerged victorious with 21 match point out of a possible 23, drawing three and winning nine matches.
In the final round, Al-Ain faced a surprisingly tough challenge against the significantly lower-rated Theme International Trading. The result was 2.5:2.5 on boards two to six, leaving Daniil Dubov to win on board one to secure the championship. Despite a poor overall performance in the event, winning just one game out of 11 played, Dubov triumphed when it mattered most, clinching first place for Al-Ain. The key drivers for the UAE team included Parham Maghsoodloo (9 points out of 12 games), Vladislav Artemiev (8.5/12), and Dmitry Andreikin (9/10). Apart from the crown, the team also won the first prize of 100,000 Euros.
Decade China finished second, the only other team to remain unbeaten, with eight victories and four draws, totaling 20 matchpoints, just one behind Al-Ain. Led by World Champion Ding Liren, the team featured top Chinese players, but the standout was their non-professional player, 26-year-old Pang Bo. Officially rated 1400, Pang won all 11 games he played (he did not play in round one). Pang confirmed in an interview for FIDE that he had played chess since childhood but that his tournaments had not been officially recorded.
WR Chess, last year's champions, took third place with 19 matchpoints. Despite having world number one Magnus Carlsen on board one, along with two-time world champion challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi and other top players, luck was not on their side. After suffering two consecutive defeats in rounds four and five, they fought back and won every remaining match, except a draw with Decade China in round eight, but could not catch up with the top two teams.
Chessy finished fourth with 18 matchpoints. Captained by GM Emil Sutovsky and featuring stars like Rapport, Van Foreest, and Vidit, they started strong, knocking WR Chess out of first place in the final round on day one. However, they faltered on the second day with two draws, one win but then lost in round eight. Chessy pressed hard on the final day, but a loss to GMHans.com in round 10 dashed their hopes for first place.
Team MGD1 from India, last year's bronze winners, secured fifth place with 17 matchpoints. Led by India's top-rated player Arjun Erigaisi, they remained close to the top but never truly contended for first place. On the final day, they drew three matches before a victory against the team of FIDE secured their fifth-place finish.
One of the event's biggest surprises was GMHans.com. Led by the charismatic Hans Niemann, the team, assembled at the last minute and composed of friends, performed well and knocked Chessy out of the top position. In the final round, they narrowly lost to WR Chess, finishing ninth.
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