From 10 to 16 June, London will host the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships. In its third year, the event has grown in scale, adding a Blitz tournament, an increased prize fund and a greater number of teams. One standout feature of this edition is the number of young talents signed up to compete.
The tournament is open to teams comprising players of all levels, fighting in both Rapid and Blitz events. With 55 teams taking part and with many having top-world GMs in their squad, this will be one of the largest and strongest chess gatherings ever held in the British capital.
There are no specific requirements to include young players, but many teams have done so regardless. Among them, 9-year-old Sarbartho Mani, who is playing for one of the favourites, Freedom, and the 10-year-old Roman Shogdzhiev on the team of Rookies (who are also formidable fighters, having a good run in the previous edition).
These players aren’t just filling boards. They’re shaping results. Their presence signals a broader generational shift in elite chess.
Here are some of the young talents poised to make their mark at the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Teams in London:
Shreyas Royal (16)
Representing the “Rookies” team, this English Grandmaster, born on January 9, 2009, became the youngest British player to achieve the GM title at 15 years and 7 months on August 20, 2024. His notable appearances include the 2023 FIDE Grand Swiss tournament, where he finished on 4,5/11 and took sixth place at the British Chess Championship in 2024.
Deborah Quickpen (13)
From Nigeria, playing for “Mother Continent,” Quickpen began her chess journey at age three and by 11 became the youngest ever Nigeria Chess Champion in 2023. She is the youngest person ever to have won the national title.
Bodhana Sivanandan (10)
This English Woman FIDE Master, on the “e-therapeutics” team, started playing during the 2020 lockdown and by March 2022, had won silver medals in European Under-8 rapid and blitz championships. In July 2024, Bodhana became the youngest person ever selected for an English national team in any sport, representing England at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest.
Roman Shogdzhiev (10)
Another “Rookies” team member, born February 4, 2015. Just ahead of the event, on 25th May, he made history by becoming the youngest ever International Master – at the age of 10 years, 3 months, and 21 days. Roman made headlines in December 2023 by defeating five Grandmasters at the World Rapid and Blitz Championships, at just eight years old.
Faustino Oro (11)
Playing for “Turkish Airlines Sports Club,” this Argentine International Master, born October 14, 2013, became the youngest player to achieve a classical rating of 2300, in 2023. In March 2024, he famously defeated Magnus Carlsen in a Bullet Brawl tournament. He held the record for the youngest International Master until May 2025.
Sofia Blokhin (19)
An Estonian Woman FIDE Master from the “Olala Stars,” born March 27, 2006, Blokhin is the reigning World Rapid Champion in the Girls Under-18 category (2024) and a multiple European champion. She also represented her country in two chess Olympiads and was a reserve player at the 2023 European Team Championship.
Zsóka Gaál (18)
A Hungarian Woman Grandmaster from “Team Hungary.” Born May 2, 2007, Gaál earned her WGM title in November 2024. She was the 2016 European Youth Champion (U10 girls) and the 2021 online World Youth Champion (U14 girls).
Marc’Andria Maurizzi (18)
This French Grandmaster, born May 16, 2007, for “Knight Dance,” became the youngest French GM at 14 years and 5 days in May 2021. In 2023, he shared first place in the World Junior Chess Championship. At the 2024 Tata Steel Challengers, he tied for second with Daniel Dardha, and in February 2025, he won the strong Djerba Masters with a round to spare and a tournament performance rating of 2898.
Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş (13)
A Turkish Grandmaster, born June 3, 2011, playing for “Generation XYZA,” Erdoğmuş achieved his GM title in April 2024 at 12 years and 10 months. In September 2024, he became the youngest player to cross the 2600 Elo mark. He has had notable successes at several strong tournaments, including the Sunway Sitges tournament in 2023 where he was 9th, and the 2024 Grenke Open.
Pranav Venkatesh (18)
Representing “Team MGD1” and India, born October 13, 2006, Venkatesh became India’s 75th GM in 2022. Most recently, in March 2025, he clinched the World Junior Chess Championship title. He also has two gold medals in the U-18 section of the FIDE World Youth Rapid and Blitz Championship.
Sarbartho Mani (9)
An Indian Arena FIDE Master, born in 2016, Mani is listed as a player for the “Freedom” team alongside Viswanathan Anand. At seven years old, he won the 36th National Under-7 Open Championship in 2023 with a perfect score of 9/9.
The tickets for the event are available here: tickets.fide.com
Follow the action with live commentaries by England’s Daniel King and Jovanka Houska on FIDE YouTube channel.
Official website: worldrapidblitzteams2025.fide.com
