Key Highlights
- Hans Niemann won the 2026 Superbet Rapid and Blitz Poland with 22.5 out of 27 points, the biggest tournament win of his career
- This is the second year in a row that a wildcard player has won the event. Vladimir Fedoseev won the 2025 edition
- Fabiano Caruana finished second with 22 points after scoring 7 out of 9 in the final blitz day, including 5 wins in a row
- Wesley So finished third with 21 points, completing an all-American podium sweep
- Vladimir Fedoseev took fourth with 18 points, defending his runner-up rank in style
- Alireza Firouzja finished fifth with 17.5 points after his strong blitz performance was not enough to overcome a poor Rapid section
- World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju finished sixth with 17 points
- Hans Niemann led the standings on all five days but almost lost the title when he lost to Gukesh with two rounds to play
- Caruana caught Niemann at the top with one round left after his fifth straight win
- Niemann clinched the title without any tiebreaks by winning his final two games over Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Radoslaw Wojtaszek
- Niemann earned the $50,000 first prize. Caruana took $40,000 and So took $30,000
- Caruana leads the 2026 Grand Chess Tour standings with 10 points because Niemann is a wildcard and not eligible for tour points
- The next GCT event, the Superbet Chess Classic Romania, begins May 14 in Bucharest
Quick Facts: Superbet Rapid and Blitz Poland 2026
- Full name: 2026 Super Rapid and Blitz Poland
- Venue: Museum of the History of Polish Jews (POLIN Museum), Anielewicza 6, Warsaw, Poland
- Full event dates: May 3 to May 10, 2026
- Rapid section: May 5 to May 7, 2026 (9 rounds, single round-robin)
- Blitz section: May 8 to May 9, 2026 (18 rounds, double round-robin)
- Total prize fund: $200,000
- Players: 10 elite grandmasters
- First event of the 2026 Grand Chess Tour season
- This article is updated daily throughout the tournament
The 2026 Grand Chess Tour kicked off in Warsaw with a thrilling finish. Hans Niemann won the Superbet Rapid and Blitz Poland 2026 with 22.5 out of 27 points, the biggest title of his career. He led the standings on every single day of the tournament. American players Fabiano Caruana (22 points) and Wesley So (21 points) took second and third for an all-American podium sweep. Niemann earned the $50,000 first prize. Because he played as a wildcard, his Grand Chess Tour points do not count toward the overall 2026 season standings. That means Caruana, who finished second, leads the 2026 Grand Chess Tour after the first leg. The Tour now moves to Bucharest for the Superbet Chess Classic Romania, the first classical event of the season, beginning May 14.
Tournament Format and Scoring
The Superbet Rapid and Blitz Poland uses two separate time formats played back to back.
The rapid section runs May 5 to 7. Each player faces every other player once in 9 rounds at 25 minutes plus a 10-second increment per move. A win earns 2 points, a draw earns 1 point, and a loss earns 0.
The blitz section runs May 8 and 9. Each player faces every other player twice in 18 rounds at 5 minutes plus a 2-second increment. A win earns 1 point, a draw earns 0.5, and a loss earns 0.
The final standings combine both scores. A perfect score across all 27 games would be 36 points. The overall winner is decided by the combined total.
One important rule: players cannot agree to draws. All draws must happen naturally on the board through repetition or the 50-move rule. This keeps the games fighting and competitive throughout.
If players tie for first place, a rapid and blitz playoff decides the winner.
Prize Fund in Superbet Rapid and Blitz Poland 2026
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $50,000 |
| 2nd | $40,000 |
| 3rd | $30,000 |
| 4th | $20,000 |
| 5th | $15,000 |
| 6th | $11,000 |
| 7th | $10,000 |
| 8th | $9,000 |
| 9th | $8,000 |
| 10th | $7,000 |
GCT 2026 Tour Points
Full-tour participants also earn GCT Tour Points that count toward the overall 2026 season standings. The top four players after five events qualify for the GCT Finals in Saint Louis in late August.
| Rank | Player | Poland R+B | Romania | Croatia R+B | Saint Louis R+B | Sinquefield Cup | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fabiano Caruana | 10 | 10 | — | — | — | 20 |
| 2 | Wesley So | 8 | 7 | — | — | — | 15 |
| 3 | Vincent Keymer | Did not play | 13 | — | — | — | 13 |
| 4 | Javokhir Sindarov | 3 | 7 | — | — | — | 10 |
| 5 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 3 | 5 | — | — | — | 8 |
| 6 | Alireza Firouzja | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | 7 |
| 7 | Anish Giri | Did not play | 5 | — | — | — | 5 |
| 7 | Jorden van Foreest | Did not play | 5 | — | — | — | 5 |
| 7 | Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa | Did not play | 5 | — | — | — | 5 |
Wildcard players earn prize money based on their finish but their tour points do not count toward the overall GCT season standings.
Players in Superbet Rapid and Blitz Poland 2026
| Player | Country | Status | Std Rating | Rapid | Blitz |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GM Fabiano Caruana | USA | Full Tour | 2795 | 2727 | 2749 |
| GM Wesley So | USA | Full Tour | 2753 | 2705 | 2798 |
| GM Alireza Firouzja | FRA | Full Tour | 2759 | 2755 | 2796 |
| GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | FRA | Full Tour | 2720 | 2735 | 2761 |
| GM Javokhir Sindarov | UZB | Full Tour | 2745 | 2727 | 2662 |
| GM Gukesh Dommaraju | IND | Wildcard | 2748 | 2682 | 2646 |
| GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda | POL | Wildcard | 2739 | 2683 | 2743 |
| GM Vladimir Fedoseev | SLO | Wildcard | 2708 | 2690 | 2756 |
| GM Hans Niemann | USA | Wildcard | 2699 | 2646 | 2699 |
| GM Radoslaw Wojtaszek | POL | Wildcard | 2666 | 2612 | 2558 |
Player Notes:
Fabiano Caruana is the defending 2025 Grand Chess Tour overall champion and two-time tour winner. He enters as one of the favorites based on current form and classical rating.
Wesley So holds the highest blitz rating in the field at 2798. He is a two-time GCT overall champion and the reigning Fischer Random World Champion.
Alireza Firouzja is the only player in this field to have ever reached World No. 1 in blitz chess. His blitz rating of 2796 makes him the most dangerous player when the clock runs low.
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave finished second overall in the 2025 GCT season. His rapid rating of 2735 actually exceeds his classical rating, making him particularly dangerous in this format.
Javokhir Sindarov was elevated to full-tour status after Gukesh Dommaraju stepped back from full-tour obligations. He arrives as the 2026 Candidates winner and World Championship Challenger, fresh off the most dominant Candidates performance in modern history.
Gukesh Dommaraju is the reigning World Champion competing as a wildcard. He withdrew from full-tour status to focus on World Championship preparation but plays here and in Croatia.
Jan-Krzysztof Duda won the 2022 Superbet Rapid and Blitz Poland at this exact venue. As Poland’s top player, he carries home crowd support and a proven track record in this format.
Vladimir Fedoseev is the defending champion of the 2025 edition of this tournament. His blitz rating of 2756 places him among the fastest players in the field.
Hans Niemann is competing in a Grand Chess Tour event for the first time following the resolution of his legal disputes with the Saint Louis Chess Club. His fearless, aggressive style in fast chess makes him a genuine spoiler threat against any opponent.
Radoslaw Wojtaszek is the second Polish wildcard. A former second to World Champion Viswanathan Anand, he brings deep theoretical preparation.
The Key Storyline: Gukesh vs Sindarov
The most anticipated games of the entire week will be the two encounters between Gukesh Dommaraju and Javokhir Sindarov. This will be the first time the World Champion and his official challenger have faced each other across the board since Sindarov won the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus. Every opening choice, every time management decision, and every result between them will be studied closely as a preview of the World Chess Championship match later in 2026.
Rapid Section Results
Day 1 — Round 1 to Round 3 (May 5, 2026)
Day 1 produced sharp and exciting chess. Of the 15 games played across the three rounds, 11 ended with a decisive result. Only 4 games ended in draws. That is a very high fighting rate for elite rapid chess.
Key results from Day 1:
Round 1: Fabiano Caruana beat Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Hans Niemann drew Javokhir Sindarov in the first taste of what could be an exciting week.
Round 3: Fabiano Caruana beat Wesley So, who had been leading going into the final game of the day. This win put Caruana into the five-way tie at the top.
Hans Niemann pulled off the standout result of the day. He beat World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju in a sharp time scramble. Niemann played fearlessly from the start and held his nerve when the clock was ticking down.
Vladimir Fedoseev, the defending champion, had a rough start but bounced back. He lost one game but then won his next two to finish the day among the leaders.
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave had the hardest day of anyone in the top half of the field. He ended Day 1 with just 1 out of 6 points. Radoslaw Wojtaszek, the second Polish wildcard, lost all three games and is on 0 points.
Day 2 — Rounds 4, 5, and 6 (May 6, 2026)
Day 2 brought the most anticipated game of the week: Gukesh vs Sindarov. It also saw Sindarov lose three straight games and Wojtaszek stun the World Champion.
Wesley So dismantled Sindarov in 45 moves in the Queen’s Gambit Meran, punishing overly ambitious opening play from the Candidates winner. Caruana and Firouzja battled for 98 moves before drawing, the longest game of the tournament. In the biggest upset of Day 2, Wojtaszek defeated World Champion Gukesh in just 35 moves using an unusual offbeat opening that completely disrupted the champion’s preparation.
The game the chess world had been waiting for. Gukesh Dommaraju, playing Black in the Caro-Kann, absorbed Sindarov’s aggressive knight sacrifice on move 25. The attack was unsound. Sindarov fell into severe time trouble while Gukesh defended with flawless precision, converting the extra material and forcing resignation on move 52. When Sindarov resigned, Gukesh delivered a visible fist pump toward the gallery. After the game he said: “That fist pump was for myself. It felt really good to win.”
Hans Niemann also won in this round, defeating Caruana in 64 moves in the Sicilian Najdorf to claim victories over three former or current GCT champions in the first five rounds. Wesley So demolished Firouzja in just 28 moves.
Fedoseev ground down Wojtaszek in a 93-move Zukertort endgame marathon, refusing to accept a draw until Wojtaszek cracked. Vachier-Lagrave inflicted a third straight loss on Sindarov in 77 moves. Niemann defeated Firouzja in 44 moves. So and Gukesh drew comfortably.
Day 3 - May 7, 2026 (Rounds 7, 8, 9)
Day 3 decided the Rapid winner. The leaders Wesley So and Hans Niemann played each other in Round 7. The game ended in a draw after Wesley So missed a winning chance.
Round 7 results
- Jan-Krzysztof Duda beat Alireza Firouzja with a brilliant piece sacrifice on move 26 in front of his home crowd
- Maxime Vachier-Lagrave beat Gukesh Dommaraju with strong endgame technique
- Javokhir Sindarov beat Vladimir Fedoseev. This was Sindarov’s first win after three straight losses
- Wesley So drew Hans Niemann in the top-of-the-table game. Wesley So missed the winning move 34…e3 and the leaders stayed tied
- Fabiano Caruana beat Radoslaw Wojtaszek in an endgame masterclass
Round 8 results
- Javokhir Sindarov drew Fabiano Caruana
- Maxime Vachier-Lagrave drew Wesley So
- Gukesh Dommaraju drew Vladimir Fedoseev
- Radoslaw Wojtaszek drew Alireza Firouzja
- Hans Niemann beat Jan-Krzysztof Duda in 63 moves. Niemann patiently converted an extra pawn in a queenless endgame. This was the win that gave him the sole tournament lead
Round 9 results
- Alireza Firouzja drew Javokhir Sindarov
- Vladimir Fedoseev beat Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the final round to secure outright third place
- Gukesh Dommaraju beat Fabiano Caruana with the black pieces. Gukesh ended his uneven Rapid section on a high note
- Wesley So drew Jan-Krzysztof Duda
- Hans Niemann drew Radoslaw Wojtaszek to officially clinch the Rapid section title without needing a playoff
Hans Niemann finished the Rapid section as the only undefeated player with four wins, five draws, and zero losses. After the games, he told the broadcast team that his performance was “incredibly stable” and that he considers himself “to be better in blitz than in rapid.” He also revealed that he had “specifically trained in blitz for one week before this event.”
Gukesh Dommaraju, speaking to the Saint Louis Chess Club, explained his fist pump after beating Sindarov. He said, “That fist pump was for myself. It felt really good to win. In the heat of the moment, I did something.” He added, “When you play games like these there is always something running behind. It’s a nice feeling.”
Rapid Section Standings
| Rank | Player | Points | Wins | Draws | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hans Niemann | 13 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| 2 | Wesley So | 12 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| 3 | Vladimir Fedoseev | 11 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| 4 | Fabiano Caruana | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Jan-Krzysztof Duda | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Gukesh Dommaraju | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 7 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 8 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| 7 | Javokhir Sindarov | 8 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| 9 | Alireza Firouzja | 6 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| 10 | Radoslaw Wojtaszek | 5 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
Blitz Section Results
Day 4: Blitz Rounds 1 to 9 (May 8, 2026)
The Blitz section opened with surprises. Alireza Firouzja, who had a poor Rapid section, exploded into form with 6.5 out of 9 points, the best score of the day. His blitz rating of 2796 finally showed up. For the three Rapid leaders, Day 4 was the opposite story.
Hans Niemann scored only 3.5 out of 9, joint-worst for the day with Jan-Krzysztof Duda. Wesley So managed 4 out of 9 but lost his chance to take over the lead. Fabiano Caruana and Vladimir Fedoseev both scored 4 or higher, climbing into contention.
Niemann started Day 4 strongly. He beat Vladimir Fedoseev in Round 2 and Fabiano Caruana in Round 4 (winning on time). After those wins, his lead looked safe. But then Niemann lost three games in a row at the end of the day to Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Gukesh Dommaraju, and Radoslaw Wojtaszek.
After play, Niemann admitted he had been too ambitious. He said, “I recovered very well, but then losing three games in a row is a bit unnecessary. I think I was just a bit too ambitious in some games. I have to thank Wesley for just matching my losses.”
Blitz Round 1
- Jan-Krzysztof Duda drew Javokhir Sindarov
- Radoslaw Wojtaszek beat Gukesh Dommaraju. This was Wojtaszek’s second straight win over the World Champion in this tournament
- Alireza Firouzja beat Hans Niemann. Firouzja drew first blood for his recovery campaign and ended the rapid leader’s unbeaten run
- Maxime Vachier-Lagrave beat Vladimir Fedoseev with the black pieces
- Wesley So drew Fabiano Caruana
Blitz Round 2
- Fabiano Caruana beat Javokhir Sindarov with the black pieces
- Maxime Vachier-Lagrave drew Wesley So
- Hans Niemann beat Vladimir Fedoseev
- Alireza Firouzja beat Gukesh Dommaraju with the black pieces
- Jan-Krzysztof Duda beat Radoslaw Wojtaszek
Blitz Round 3
- Radoslaw Wojtaszek drew Javokhir Sindarov
- Alireza Firouzja drew Jan-Krzysztof Duda
- Vladimir Fedoseev drew Gukesh Dommaraju
- Wesley So beat Hans Niemann. This was the most important game of the round and brought So back within striking distance
- Fabiano Caruana beat Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Blitz Round 4
- Maxime Vachier-Lagrave beat Javokhir Sindarov with the black pieces
- Hans Niemann beat Fabiano Caruana on time
- Gukesh Dommaraju beat Wesley So
- Vladimir Fedoseev beat Jan-Krzysztof Duda with the black pieces
- Alireza Firouzja beat Radoslaw Wojtaszek with the black pieces
Blitz Round 5
- Alireza Firouzja drew Javokhir Sindarov
- Radoslaw Wojtaszek beat Vladimir Fedoseev with the black pieces
- Wesley So beat Jan-Krzysztof Duda
- Fabiano Caruana beat Gukesh Dommaraju
- Hans Niemann beat Maxime Vachier-Lagrave with the black pieces
Blitz Round 6
- Javokhir Sindarov drew Hans Niemann
- Gukesh Dommaraju drew Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
- Fabiano Caruana beat Jan-Krzysztof Duda with the black pieces
- Radoslaw Wojtaszek drew Wesley So
- Alireza Firouzja drew Vladimir Fedoseev
Blitz Round 7
- Javokhir Sindarov beat Gukesh Dommaraju. The much-anticipated rematch from Rapid Round 5 went the other way. Sindarov took revenge with the white pieces
- Jan-Krzysztof Duda beat Hans Niemann
- Maxime Vachier-Lagrave beat Radoslaw Wojtaszek with the black pieces
- Fabiano Caruana beat Alireza Firouzja with the black pieces
- Vladimir Fedoseev beat Wesley So
Blitz Round 8
- Javokhir Sindarov drew Vladimir Fedoseev
- Gukesh Dommaraju beat Hans Niemann
- Fabiano Caruana beat Radoslaw Wojtaszek
- Alireza Firouzja beat Wesley So with the black pieces
- Maxime Vachier-Lagrave drew Jan-Krzysztof Duda
Blitz Round 9
- Javokhir Sindarov drew Wesley So
- Gukesh Dommaraju beat Jan-Krzysztof Duda
- Radoslaw Wojtaszek beat Hans Niemann
- Vladimir Fedoseev drew Fabiano Caruana
- Alireza Firouzja beat Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Day 5: Blitz Rounds 10 to 18 (May 9, 2026
The final day delivered the drama everyone expected. Fabiano Caruana scored a brilliant 7 out of 9 points on the final day, including 5 wins in a row at one point. His string of wins came against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Hans Niemann, Gukesh Dommaraju, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, and Radoslaw Wojtaszek.
For most of the day, Niemann stayed in front. He beat Alireza Firouzja in Round 10 and beat Wesley So on time in another key game. But disaster struck when Niemann lost to Gukesh Dommaraju with two rounds to play. That loss, combined with Caruana’s fifth straight win, brought the two American players level at the top of the standings.
With everything on the line, Niemann steadied his nerves. He won a brilliant attacking game against Polish number one Jan-Krzysztof Duda. He sacrificed an exchange with 21.Rf5, and then offered a second rook sacrifice, before crashing through with a powerful attack. This win put Niemann back in front by half a point with one round to go.
In the final round, both Niemann and Caruana had the black pieces. Niemann faced Radoslaw Wojtaszek (who had just lost three in a row). Caruana faced Vladimir Fedoseev. Both winners would clinch their position. Caruana won his game. Niemann then needed at least a draw, but he chose to play for the win. “I didn’t see much risk with the two bishops,” Niemann said later. “I’m happy I went for the win and it paid off.”
Niemann beat Wojtaszek to officially clinch the tournament without needing a playoff.
In the third and final meeting between Gukesh Dommaraju and Javokhir Sindarov, Sindarov won with the black pieces. The opening went badly for Gukesh, and Sindarov pushed a passed c-pawn through to victory. Across their three games in this tournament, Sindarov won twice (both in blitz) and Gukesh won once (in rapid).
After the trophy ceremony, Niemann said, “After the rapid, I wasn’t stressed, I genuinely couldn’t believe I could lose three games in a row and still be leading. I was asking myself, why do I feel so bad and still be in front? It was a real rollercoaster. In the end, I’m just happy I won. Anything could have happened, but all the stars aligned.”
He also reflected on the moment Gukesh beat him with two rounds left: “After I lost that game to Gukesh, anything could have happened.”
Final Standings
| Rank | Player | Status | Rapid | Blitz | Total | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hans Niemann | Wildcard | 13 | 9.5 | 22.5 | $50,000 |
| 2 | Fabiano Caruana | Full Tour | 9 | 13 | 22 | $40,000 |
| 3 | Wesley So | Full Tour | 12 | 9 | 21 | $30,000 |
| 4 | Vladimir Fedoseev | Wildcard | 11 | 7 | 18 | $20,000 |
| 5 | Alireza Firouzja | Full Tour | 6 | 11.5 | 17.5 | $15,000 |
| 6 | Gukesh Dommaraju | Wildcard | 9 | 8 | 17 | $11,000 |
| 7 | Javokhir Sindarov | Full Tour | 8 | 5 | 13 | $9,000 |
| 7 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Full Tour | 8 | 5 | 13 | $9,000 |
| 7 | Jan-Krzysztof Duda | Wildcard | 9 | 4 | 13 | $9,000 |
| 10 | Radoslaw Wojtaszek | Wildcard | 5 | 5 | 10 | $7,000 |
Hans Niemann’s victory continues a pattern at this venue. For the second year in a row, a wildcard player has won the Superbet Rapid and Blitz Poland. Last year it was Vladimir Fedoseev. This year it was Niemann. Players ranked 7th, 8th, and 9th tied with 13 points each, so they shared the prize money for those positions equally.
2026 GCT Tour Standings
Because Hans Niemann played as a wildcard, his points do not count toward the overall Grand Chess Tour. Fabiano Caruana, who finished second, leads the 2026 GCT after the first leg.
| Rank | Player | GCT Points After Poland | Romania Result | GCT Points After Romania |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vincent Keymer | 0 | 1st (13 pts) | 13 |
| 2 | Fabiano Caruana | 10 | 2nd (10 pts) | 20 |
| 3 | Wesley So | 8 | T3 (7 pts) | 15 |
| 4 | Javokhir Sindarov | 3 | T3 (7 pts) | 10 |
| 5 | Anish Giri | 0 | T5 (5 pts) | 5 |
| 5 | Jorden van Foreest | 0 | T5 (5 pts) | 5 |
| 5 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 3 | T5 (5 pts) | 8 |
| 5 | Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa | 0 | T5 (5 pts) | 5 |
| 9 | Alireza Firouzja | 6 | 10th (1 pt) | 7 |
The top four full-tour players after five events qualify for the GCT Finals in Saint Louis at the end of August. With five events left in the season, the race is wide open.
What Happens Next
Superbet Chess Classic Romania 2026
- Location: Bucharest, Romania
- Dates: May 14 to May 23, 2026
- Format: 10-player classical round-robin
- Prize fund: $475,000
- Field: All nine full-tour players plus Romanian wildcard Bogdan-Daniel Deac
The full-tour players move from Warsaw to Bucharest with just a few days between events. The points earned in Poland will shape how aggressively they approach Romania. Read our full Grand Chess Tour 2026 guide for the complete season schedule and standings.
FAQ
Hans Niemann won the 2026 Superbet Rapid and Blitz Poland with 22.5 out of 27 points. This was the biggest tournament win of his career. He earned $50,000 in prize money and finished half a point ahead of Fabiano Caruana.
The top three were all American players. Hans Niemann finished first with 22.5 points. Fabiano Caruana finished second with 22 points. Wesley So finished third with 21 points. This was an all-American podium sweep.
Hans Niemann won the first prize of $50,000. Fabiano Caruana won $40,000 for second place. Wesley So won $30,000 for third place. The total tournament prize fund was $200,000.
Fabiano Caruana leads the 2026 Grand Chess Tour with 10 tour points. Hans Niemann won the tournament but played as a wildcard, so his points do not count toward the GCT season standings. Wesley So is second on the tour with 8 points. Alireza Firouzja is third with 6 points.
The two players faced each other three times in this tournament. Gukesh Dommaraju won the Rapid Round 5 game with the black pieces. Javokhir Sindarov won both blitz games (Round 7 and Round 16), with the white pieces and the black pieces. Across the three games, Sindarov won 2 and Gukesh won 1.
No playoff was needed. Hans Niemann won the title outright. He almost lost his lead after a defeat to Gukesh Dommaraju with two rounds to play, but he won both of his final two games to clinch the title without tiebreaks.
Jan-Krzysztof Duda won the 2022 edition at this venue. Magnus Carlsen won the 2024 edition. Vladimir Fedoseev won the 2025 edition. Hans Niemann won the 2026 edition, making it the second year in a row that a wildcard player has taken the title.
The next Grand Chess Tour event is the Superbet Chess Classic Romania, the first classical event of the season. It begins on May 14, 2026, in Bucharest, and runs until May 23. The prize fund is $475,000.
Summary
The 2026 Superbet Rapid and Blitz Poland heads into its final day with a tight race at the top. Hans Niemann leads with 16.5 points, half a point ahead of Wesley So. Fabiano Caruana and Vladimir Fedoseev are tied for third on 15, only 1.5 points behind. Day 4 belonged to Alireza Firouzja, who scored a brilliant 6.5 out of 9 in the Blitz despite a poor Rapid section. Niemann lost three games in a row at the end of Day 4 to see his lead shrink dramatically. The final 9 blitz rounds will be played today, May 9, starting at 12:00 CEST (3:30 PM IST). With four players within 1.5 points of the lead, a playoff for first place is a real possibility. This article will be updated again after the final results.
