The SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia 2025, the third leg of the Grand Chess Tour, was held in Zagreb, Croatia at The Westin Zagreb Hotel from June 30 to July 7, 2025. This special edition marked the 10th anniversary of the Grand Chess Tour and featured a 10-player round‑robin format combining rapid and blitz formats, with a prize fund of $175,000.
Event Overview & Format
- Venue & Dates: The Westin Zagreb Hotel hosted the event. Opening ceremonies began on June 30, and the tournament concluded on July 6.
- Schedule:
- June 30–July 1: Arrival, photo shoots, meetings, and opening ceremony.
- July 2–4: Rapid games (9 rounds; 2 points for a win, 1 for a draw).
- July 5–6: Blitz games (two 9-round cycles; 1 point for a win).
- July 6 evening: Closing ceremony and gala dinner.
- Format: Total points from rapid and blitz determined the final standings.
- Prize Fund: $175,000 total prize pool.
Participants
The event included seven full-tour players and three wildcards:
- Magnus Carlsen (wildcard)
- Anish Giri (wildcard)
- Ivan Šarić (wildcard)
- Fabiano Caruana
- Gukesh D.
- Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa
- Alireza Firouzja
- Nodirbek Abdusattorov
- Wesley So
- Jan-Krzysztof Duda
All players ranked within the world’s top 30, contributing to a competitive and dynamic tournament.
Broadcast & Commentary
The event was broadcast live across major chess platforms including YouTube and Twitch. Commentary was provided by:
- Grandmasters Yasser Seirawan, Evgeny Miroshnichenko, Cristian Chirila
- International Master Nazi Paikidze
- Woman Grandmaster Anastasia Karlovich
Tactical & Strategic Trends
- Rapid vs Blitz: Rapid games featured deeper strategy and maneuvering, while blitz games showcased fast, sharp tactics and instinct-based play.
- Risk and Creativity: Players were more willing to take risks in blitz, leading to some explosive and creative games.
Prize Distribution
- First prize likely around $40,000
- Second and third prizes approximately $25,000 and $20,000 respectively
- Tour Points: 13 for 1st place, followed by 10 for 2nd, 8 for 3rd, and so on
2024 Champion
In contrast, the 2024 SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia, held July 9–14, was dominated by GM Fabiano Caruana, who claimed the title five rounds before the finish, matching Carlsen’s Grand Chess Tour record of 27 points. Caruana secured first place and $40,000, while Wesley So, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and Alireza Firouzja tied for second. Read about UZ chess cup 2025
