Latest news with #GrandChessTour2025Rapid&Blitz
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Carlsen wins GCT 2025 Zagreb; Gukesh finishes third, Praggnanandhaa ends in ninth
World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen of Norway emerged as the winner of the Grand Chess Tour 2025 Rapid & Blitz in Zagreb while reigning world champion D. Gukesh finished third in the standings. Carlsen defeated local player Ivan Saric in the final match in blitz to top the overall standings with 22.5 points to take his sixth straight GCT R&B win. After clinching 10 points in the rapid stage, Carlsen was at his dominant best, bagging 12.5 points after 18 rounds of blitz to win the title with a 2.5 lead over Wesley So. Meanwhile, Gukesh got off to a rough start in the blitz section despite finishing on top after the rapid rounds. Out of the 18 rounds in blitz, Gukesh managed to win just 5.5 points. In the final game, he drew with compatriot R. Praggnanandhaa to finish with a total of 19.5 points — the only other Indian in the fray finished a lowly ninth with 15 points. Grand Chess Tour Rapid & Blitz 2025 Zagreb Top 3 Magnus Carlsen (Norway) - 22.5 points Wesley So (USA) - 20 points D Gukesh (India) - 19.5 points
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Carlsen takes lead at GCT 2025 Zagreb; Gukesh struggles in blitz after topping rapid section
Reigning world champion D. Gukesh struggled on day four of the Grand Chess Tour 2025 Rapid & Blitz, taking place in Zagreb, Croatia, on Saturday. After finishing on top after the rapid section and storming to a three-point lead, the 19-year-old was unable to get going in the first nine blitz rounds. Of the nine games, Gukesh lost the first five on the trot, including to current tournament leader Magnus Carlsen, before managing to secure a draw against Anish Giri. His first win came against Fabiano Caruana in the eighth round. With one win, one draw, seven losses and collecting only 1.5 points, Gukesh slumped to third with a total of 15.5 points. Meanwhile, Carlsen, who finished third after the rapid, secured six wins and three draws, to top the table with 17.5 points. Jan-Krzysztof Duda held on to second place with 16 points. Another Indian in the fray, R. Praggnanandhaa, was joint-fourth heading into the blitz rounds — he won two games, drew five and lost two, finishing with 3.5 points for the day and 13.5 overall to secure fifth. The final day of the blitz section will take place on Sunday, July 6. The player with the most points combined at the end of the final day will win the overall title.
