Yuletide is not the only thing i look forward to as the year draws to a close. Boxing day test matches have also lost their appeal as the Aussies ride rough shed over all opposition (although an over-prepared Baz and the Poms trying to outdo each other in delusional mutterings has its charm). December end brings with it the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships. Its an event that has grown in stature with the one and only not playing the classical championship cycle anymore. Faster time controls have come to the forefront with their ability to attract eyeballs and footfalls. Shrinking attention spans are not always a pin in the neck. With denim being allowed by FIDE, Magnus is back in the fold and the rest of the knights need their very best gambits to outdo the king. Swiss formats are always fun to follow with intriguing pairings emerging every round and the rankings changing as fast as the moves made. Time on the clock is worth more than a pawn or two with scrambles happening not just on the boards. New stars emerge (Volodar Murzin's "rapid" rise is proof enough) and heavy weights tilt like the tower of "caissa". There is no time to dwell as you run to the next round faster than you can say "zugzwang". 13 rounds of rapid and 19 rounds of blitz with a knock-out is non-stop adrenaline rush for 5 days. Armageddon here provides more kicks than Bruce and Ben did. The evaluation bar jumping around like a primate on trampoline is proof enough that grand masters are not masters of father time after all. The French-Iranian prodigy has made a late decision to take a break from his fashionista ways and will provide the hardest challenge to the Norwegian hegemony at least based on pedigree. However, if history is any indicator, there will be surprises en passant and that is what makes the tournament a cracking Christmas treat. Its a game of black and white and may the fastest be crowned champion in Qatar.