FIDE World Rapid & Blitz championships in NY: Where chess meets finance

Freedom Holding Corp. sponsored the 2024 FIDE World Blitz Championship, hosted at the iconic Cipriani Wall Street.

This landmark event delivered electrifying matches and historic moments. Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi shared the Open title after a dramatic seven-game tiebreaker, showcasing exceptional approach as they agreed to split the crown. In the Women’s section, Ju Wenjun triumphed over Lei Tingjie in a thrilling final. "This tournament has been both challenging and exciting," Ju remarked, highlighting the resilience and skill that defined the competition.

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich underscored the event’s significance: "This championship showed that chess is popular all over the world. It also tried new ways to make the game more exciting and will encourage new players to take up the game. We are very grateful to Freedom Holding Corp. for their support in making this event a success."

Chess and business

Running parallel to the championship was the Wall Street Gambit Conference, which brought together economists, business leaders, and chess professionals to explore the intersection of chess and finance. The conference featured panel discussions, debates, and games that demonstrated how chess principles can be applied to business decision-making.

Timur Turlov, CEO of Freedom Holding Corp., highlighted the parallels between chess and business: "Trust, much like the king in chess, is the cornerstone of any system. Without trust, everything else falls apart. Chess teaches us strategy, resilience, and adaptability - qualities essential in both life and business."

The conference also examined how artificial intelligence is reshaping industries. Kaggle CEO J.D. Sculley discussed how AI breakthroughs like AlphaZero revolutionized chess and predictive analytics. Harvard economist Kenneth Rogoff reflected on chess’s role in fostering disciplined, strategic thinking, a critical skill during financial crises.

Looking ahead

Chess is becoming more and more popular all the time. Events like the 2024 FIDE World Blitz Championship show that it can bring different people and cultures together.

Timur Turlov said: "Through events like this, we are not only supporting a game of intellect, but also encouraging a global culture of strategic thinking and innovation. Freedom Holding Corp. continues to support excellence, both in chess and in other areas. This tournament shows the shared values of strategy, resilience, and global collaboration - principles that are important in both chess and business."