Russian Grandmaster Vladislav Artemiev has burst onto the World Rapid 2025 scene, sharing the lead with 4.5/5 points after day one in Doha, Qatar. This quiet powerhouse from Omsk is suddenly turning heads among the chess elite.
Joint Lead in World Rapid 2025
The FIDE World Rapid 2025 kicked off on December 26 at Qatar University’s Sports and Events Complex, drawing 247 top players for the open section. After five intense rounds on day one, Artemiev sits tied atop the standings alongside Carlsen (world #1, 2824 rating), Arjun Erigaisi, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and world champion Gukesh Dommaraju.
All scored 4.5 points, a marked improvement from last year’s chaotic start, where lower seeds dominated early. Artemiev’s highlight was a gritty win over GM Amin Tabatabaei in round three, grinding out an opposite-colours bishop endgame with just one extra pawn, a testament to his endgame precision under rapid time pressure. His upcoming round-six clash against Arjun promises fireworks, as the leaders now face off.
Who Is Vladislav Artemiev?
Born on March 5, 1998, in Omsk, Russia, Vladislav Artemiev discovered chess at age six under his father’s guidance. After initial reluctance, he once pushed the board away, the game hooked him during a football hiatus due to illness. Trained by local coach Vladimir Indykov and later theoretician Ivan Smykovsky, he rocketed through the ranks.
By 2012, at just 14, he claimed the junior Olympiad gold with Russia, earned grandmaster norms at the Mendeleev Memorial, and sensationally qualified for Russia’s Rapid Grand-Prix final by upsetting stars like Dmitry Andreikin.
Read More
Artemiev became a grandmaster in 2014, winning the Agzamov Memorial in Tashkent and qualifying for the World Cup via European Championships. He split first in Russia’s premier league in 2015 and took silver at the 2016 World U20 Championship behind Jeffrey Xiong.
A rapid and blitz specialist, he won Russia’s individual blitz in 2016, shared first at the 2017 Moscow Open, and reached the World Cup’s third round by beating Teimour Radjabov. In 2019, he triumphed at Gibraltar with 8.5/10.
Recent peaks include the 2023 Russian Superfinal title, World Blitz bronze in Samarkand, BRICS Games rapid gold in 2024, and defending his Russian championship in Barnaul. Playing for Kazan’s Ladya club, he helped Tatarstan win the 2024 Russian rapid team title. Now married to chess player Olga Belova and studying in Kazan, Vladislav Artemiev blends Siberian grit with tactical sharpness.
Read More
In a field packed with favourites, Artemiev’s surge feels like classic chess drama, underdog rising amid the chaos. With 13 rounds total and €70,000 on the line, can he sustain this form through Saturday’s battles? Stay tuned for day two updates from Doha.
Also read: World Rapid And Blitz 2025: Gukesh, Carlsen, And Arjun Share Lead
