Fabiano Caruana Takes Sole Lead After Day Two of 2024 SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia

Fabiano Caruana emerged as the sole leader after day two of the 2024 SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia tournament, making a remarkable comeback by beating GMs Levon Aronian and Ivan Saric and escaping against GM Wesley So. The previous leader, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, suffered a blunder and lost to Gukesh Dommaraju, who matched Caruana’s 5/6 for the day.

The day began with a somber note as a minute’s silence was observed in honor of Magnus Carlsen’s mother, Sigrun Øen, who had passed away. Despite the emotional start, the players had to focus on the games ahead.

Gukesh Dommaraju’s victory over Vachier-Lagrave was a turning point in the tournament, as he went on to secure wins against Vidit Gujrathi and Ian Nepomniachtchi. Gukesh’s impressive performance put him back into contention for the top spot.

Caruana’s strategic play and ability to capitalize on his opponents’ mistakes helped him secure the lead. Despite facing tough challenges, including a grueling match against Wesley So, Caruana managed to hold on and maintain his position at the top.

With the tournament still wide open, French GM Alireza Firouzja is also in the mix, just two points behind Caruana. The players are gearing up for the final day of rapid chess before transitioning to blitz, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the event.

The 2024 SuperUnited Croatia Rapid & Blitz is part of the Grand Chess Tour and features top players competing in rapid and blitz formats. Stay tuned for more updates and coverage as the tournament progresses.