By- David R. Sands -- The holidays are traditionally a season of hustle and bustle, so what better time is there for holding a major rapid championship?
 
Georgian GM Baadur Jobava emerged as the new European rapid championship, topping a high-powered field this month with a 9-2 score in Warsaw. Once something of a curiosity, the rapid Game/25 format is now firmly ensconced in international play, with the faster time control often leading to more combative and aggressive play while allowing an entire continent to hold an 11-round championship tournament over the course of a long three-day weekend.
 
While not as chaotic {and random} as faster blitz chess play can be; 'Rapid' {chess}, is clearly a different animal than chess played at slower, "classical" speeds. Obtaining the initiative {often at the expense of material} can be critical in rapid play, as the defender is usually at an even greater disadvantage in the shorter time controls. The difficulty of defending in rapid can be seen in today's games; Starting with one, from new European champ. .. {Oops!}