Team MGD1 finishes second in World Rapid Team Championship after tiebreak loss to China's Dragon Chilling
Team MGD1, the defending champion of the FIDE World Rapid Team Championship, came close to retaining their title in Hong Kong but ultimately had to settle for second place after a tiebreak decision favoured the Chinese team Dragon Chilling.
The tournament concluded with three teams—Team MGD1, Dragon Chilling, and Hexamind Chess Team—all tied on 18 points from 12 rapid rounds. In the first tiebreak (board points), both Team MGD1 and Dragon Chilling scored 46 points, while Hexamind had 45. The second tiebreak (TB3) used average rating of opponents, where Dragon Chilling's 647.5 edged out Team MGD1's 632, securing the Chinese team their maiden title in their first appearance.
Indian grandmasters Arjun Erigaisi and Nihal Sarin delivered strong performances on their boards, contributing significantly to the team's overall points tally. Despite their efforts, the defending champions fell just short of the top spot.
The championship, held in Hong Kong, featured a unique team format that combined rapid time controls with a round-robin structure. Dragon Chilling, led by former world champion Ding Liren, emerged victorious in a tightly contested field.
