SUMMARY
- Gukesh, Carlsen, Duda, and So lead after Day 1 with 4/6 points in SuperUnited Croatia Rapid & Blitz 2025
- Carlsen derides Gukesh’s rapid skills, setting up a dramatic showdown on Day 2
- Wildcards shake up Grand Chess Tour standings as Zagreb hosts a tense reunion of global chess elites
Chess Fireworks in Zagreb: Carlsen Returns, Gukesh Responds
The 2025 SuperUnited Croatia Rapid & Blitz tournament has exploded into action with all the tension of a high-stakes thriller. World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju and Magnus Carlsen, the former champion who remains chess’s biggest box-office draw, ended Day 1 locked at the top of the leaderboard, tied with Wesley So and Jan-Krzysztof Duda at 4/6. What makes this all the more electric is the promise of more direct clashes between the prodigious Gukesh and the ever-acerbic Carlsen—whose remarks about Gukesh being a “presumably weaker player” in fast formats have added kerosene to the board.
This third leg of the 2025 Grand Chess Tour brings together seven tour regulars, including titans like Alireza Firouzja and Praggnanandhaa, plus three wildcards, among them Carlsen and Anish Giri. The Zagreb stage, known for drama and emotional stakes, is already delivering.
Garry Kasparov, the 13th World Champion, made the first symbolic move in the game between local hero Ivan Šarić and the world’s top-rated player, Magnus Carlsen, to kick off Round 1 of the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia.#Grandchesstour #chess #magnuscarlsen #Garrykasparov… pic.twitter.com/qtUV8W91qm
— Grand Chess Tour (@GrandChessTour) July 2, 2025
Carlsen’s Calculated Return: Rusty, Ruthless, and Provocative
- Magnus Carlsen wins vs. So but nearly blunders vs. Duda in Day 1
- Comments on Gukesh’s rapid form ignite a new rivalry arc
- Carlsen has won 9 of 11 previous Grand Chess Tour rapid/blitz events
Returning to elite competition after his mother’s passing in 2024, Carlsen admitted to being “really, really rusty” but still managed to grind out a win against Wesley So in vintage endgame style. His draw with Duda, where he pushed too far in a drawn queen endgame and was lucky Duda repeated in a winning position, exposed his vulnerability.
But what stole the headlines wasn’t just Carlsen’s chess—it was his jabs. “Gukesh hasn’t done anything to indicate he’ll do well in a blitz tournament,” he said, even claiming he’d treat the reigning World Champion as one of the “presumably weaker players.” The contrast between his humility in form and confidence in narrative fuels the intrigue.
For Carlsen, Zagreb is redemption. For the rest of the field, it’s survival.
Gukesh Strikes Back: World Champion Rebuilds Momentum
- Loses to Duda in Round 1, then defeats Firouzja and Praggnanandhaa
- Credits smart prep and opponent time pressure
- Still adjusting to rapid pace but shows resilience
After a shaky start, Gukesh recovered spectacularly. He was out-prepared by Duda in the opening round, caught off-guard by the Center Gambit. But the Indian champion showed calm and steel in later games, exploiting Firouzja’s opening inaccuracies and Praggnanandhaa’s time trouble.
His assessment? Professional and pragmatic: “The Duda game was unpleasant, but I thought he played very well. Against Firouzja, the queen trap with 34.Bf1! was satisfying. Against Prag, 17…e5! was a nice trick.”
As Carlsen’s provocations buzz through the playing hall, Gukesh lets the board do the talking—for now.
The Wildcards Bite Back: Duda, Giri, Saric Stir the Pot
- Jan-Krzysztof Duda shocks Gukesh with sharp prep and joins leaders
- Giri narrowly misses a top spot after a late-game slip vs. So
- Croatian wildcard Saric holds Carlsen to a draw
If anyone expected the three wildcards to be spectators, Day 1 crushed that notion. Duda’s defeat of Gukesh set the pace, while Giri was a few moves from leading the tournament before losing a complicated position to Wesley So. Saric, the local hero, showed nerves of steel in holding Carlsen to a solid draw, earning praise for his control and calm.
This strong wildcard performance adds pressure to the Grand Chess Tour regulars, who now must scrap not only for wins but for Tour Finals qualification points.
Closing Gambit: Endgames Will Define the Tour
This Grand Chess Tour edition is no mere circuit—it’s a crucible. Every match could shift the momentum heading into the blitz leg and, eventually, the Sao Paulo Finals. Carlsen seeks a sixth rapid/blitz crown in a row. Gukesh wants to prove his rapid chops. So wants redemption. Duda wants respect.
The board is set. The pieces are in motion.
