11.27.18 What if the World Championship Match is decided in rapid or blitz games? That once hypothetical query has now become a reality. Tomorrow, Wednesday, November 28th, Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana are scheduled to play rapid and, if necessary, blitz games to decide the title. GM Maxim Dlugy gives us a preview of the World Championship Playoff in his column The Blitz Wisperer for New in Chess Magazine.

This article was first published in New in Chess magazine 2018#7.

What if the World Championship match is decided in blitz games?

Rules for the Tiebreak Portion of the Match

In the initial round of the Playoffs, four tie-break games will be played. These are rapid games with 25 minutes for each player with an increment of 10 seconds after each move.

If it's still equal, two blitz games will be played (5 minutes plus 3 seconds increment).

If it's still equal, a second pair of two blitz games will be played.

If there is still no winner after five such matches, one sudden-death game will be played. The player who wins the drawing of lots may choose the color. The player with the white pieces shall receive 5 minutes, the player with the black pieces shall receive 4 minutes whereupon, after the 60th move, both players shall receive an increment of 3 seconds starting from move 61. In case of a draw the player with the black pieces is declared the winner.

The first tiebreak game will begin at 10:00 a.m. eastern U.S. on Wednesday, November 28th.

Official Site of the FIDE World Chess Championship Match 2018