Karjakin and Carlsen both scored 16.5 points from 21 rounds of the fast-paced form of the game, with the former triumphing on a tie-break.

It came just a month after Carlsen overcame Karjakin on a tie-break at the World Chess Championship final in New York City.  

Karjakin’s triumph ensures his first victory in an event that Carlsen has won twice previously, in 2009 and 2014.

"Ahead of this championship, I thought I only wanted to play chess here and take a rest from all the interviews and attention," he told Russian television network RT.

"I didn’t set any big goals."

A tie-break also settled the third-place play-off as Russia’s Daniil Dubov prevailed after finishing level on 14.5 points with compatriot Alexander Grischuk, last year’s champion, and the United States’ Hikaru Nakamura.

In the women’s event, Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk came out on top with 13 points from 17 rounds.

Russia’s Valentina Gunina took the silver medal on a tie-break after finishing level on 12.5 points with fellow countrywoman Kateryna Lagno.

The World Rapid Championships were also held in Doha and saw Ukraine’s Vassily Ivanchuk claim the men’s crown and Muzychuk take the women’s title.

Blitz chess limits the time each player has to three minutes and an additional two seconds per move.

Rapid chess, a slightly slower form of the game, allows 15 minutes to each player plus 10-second increments per move.