Praggnanandhaa joint 2nd, Gukesh 6th after Day 1 at Grand Chess Tour Croatia
Synopsis
Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh split the point against each other on Day 1 in Zagreb, but their paths diverged sharply — Praggnanandhaa sits joint 2nd after defeating Keymer, while world champion Gukesh is tied 6th after an opening loss to Vachier-Lagrave. Firouzja, returning from an injury withdrawal in Romania, is already setting the pace with a solo lead on 5 points.
Key Takeaways
Praggnanandhaa is tied 2nd with 4/6 points after three rapid rounds at the Grand Chess Tour Croatia in Zagreb .
Gukesh is tied 6th on 3/6 , recovering from a first-round loss to Maxime Vachier-Lagrave .
Alireza Firouzja holds the sole lead on 5 points , weeks after withdrawing injured from the Romania leg.
Praggnanandhaa defeated Vincent Keymer in Round 1; Gukesh beat Ivan Saric in Round 2.
The two Indians drew against each other in Round 3; six rapid rounds and the full blitz section remain.
R. Praggnanandhaa and world champion D. Gukesh had sharply contrasting opening days at the Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia, the third event of the Grand Chess Tour, in Zagreb on 2 July. Praggnanandhaa ended the rapid section's first three rounds tied for 2nd place with 4/6 points, while Gukesh sits tied for 6th on 3/6 with six rapid rounds still ahead.
Praggnanandhaa's Promising Start
Praggnanandhaa opened his campaign with an impressive victory over Vincent Keymer, then held his ground with a draw against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. The results leave him well-placed heading into the remaining rapid rounds, with only Alireza Firouzja ahead of him in the standings.
Gukesh's Mixed Day
The world champion endured a difficult start, suffering a first-round defeat to Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Gukesh responded with resolve, bouncing back immediately with a win over Ivan Saric. The two Indian players then met in the day's final round, splitting the point in a draw — a result that kept both their relative positions intact.
Firouzja Leads, Others in the Mix
Alireza Firouzja holds the sole lead on 5 points after three rounds, remaining the man to beat. This comes just weeks after Firouzja was forced to withdraw from the Grand Chess Tour Romania event following an ankle injury — an absence that saw him play two games from a separate room before conceding. His return to form in Zagreb has been emphatic.
Elsewhere on Day 1, Keymer recovered from an opening-round loss to defeat Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Bogdan-Daniel Deac registered his first win of the event against Ivan Saric, while Vachier-Lagrave and Jorden van Foreest shared the point.
Tournament Format
The Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia combines two fast-paced disciplines. The rapid section runs over 9 rounds as a single round-robin, played at 25 minutes plus a 10-second increment from move one. The blitz section follows as an 18-round double round-robin at 5 minutes plus a 2-second increment. Rapid wins earn 2 points, draws 1 point; blitz wins earn 1 point, draws half a point.
With six rapid rounds and the entire blitz segment still to play, the standings remain fluid — and both Indian contenders retain every chance of climbing the leaderboard.
Point of View
Where preparation windows are compressed and tactical sharpness is everything. Praggnanandhaa, by contrast, looked the more settled of the two Indians — his win over Keymer was no routine result given Keymer's recent form. The real story, however, is Firouzja: a player who withdrew injured from the previous leg is already leading the field, which raises the competitive bar considerably for the rest of the field heading into the blitz rounds.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Grand Chess Tour Croatia 2025?
The Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia is the third event of the 2025 Grand Chess Tour, held in Zagreb. It combines a 9-round rapid section and an 18-round blitz section, with top grandmasters competing for Grand Chess Tour points and prize money.
How did Praggnanandhaa perform on Day 1 in Zagreb?
Praggnanandhaa scored 4 out of 6 points in the first three rapid rounds, beating Vincent Keymer, drawing with Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and drawing with Gukesh. He is currently tied for 2nd place in the standings.
Why is Gukesh tied 6th after Day 1?
World champion D. Gukesh lost to Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the opening round, which set him back early. He recovered with a win over Ivan Saric and drew with Praggnanandhaa, finishing Day 1 on 3/6 points and tied for 6th.
Who is leading the Grand Chess Tour Croatia after Round 3?
Alireza Firouzja leads the tournament with 5 points after three rapid rounds, holding the sole lead. This is a notable return to form after he was forced to withdraw from the Grand Chess Tour Romania event due to an ankle injury.
How are points counted in the Super Rapid & Blitz format?
In the rapid section, a win earns 2 points and a draw earns 1 point. In the blitz section, a win earns 1 point and a draw earns half a point. The combined total determines the final standings.
