India, Dec. 25 -- World champion D Gukesh will get the opportunity to end the season on a high following an underwhelming season, while Koneru Humpy will aim to defend her title when the star-studded FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships get underway here on Thursday. The season-ending gala is one that attracts the cream of chess and the upcoming edition will see the likes of five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen, Americans Fabiano Caruana and Wesley So, Russian GM Ian Nepomniachtchi and India's R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi and Nihal Sarin, among others, make a bid for the top purse in the Open section.

D Gukesh, who won the world title after defeating Ding Liren in 2023, has been overshadowed this year. The champion began 2025 ...