Speed Chess Championship: Carlsen, Naka, Firouzja and Lazavik in semis

The quarterfinals of the 2025 Speed Chess Championship have concluded, producing two compelling semifinal pairings for the live stage in London this February. Magnus Carlsen will face Denis Lazavik, while Hikaru Nakamura is set to meet Alireza Firouzja in a clash of leading speed-play specialists. The event, organised by chess.com, continues to combine online matchplay with an on-site finale, bringing rapid-fire chess to a live audience on 7–8 February 2026.