Maxime Vachier-Lagrave Leads After Day 1 of 2024 SuperUnited Croatia Rapid & Blitz

The 2024 SuperUnited Croatia Rapid & Blitz tournament kicked off with a bang as GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave took the lead after an impressive performance on the first day. Coming off a streak of nine draws in Bucharest, Vachier-Lagrave started strong in Zagreb by defeating GM Levon Aronian and GM Ivan Saric to end the day with a score of 5/6.

The Frenchman’s performance put him ahead of GMs Fabiano Caruana and Wesley So, who were both trailing by a point. The absence of world number-one GM Magnus Carlsen, who had to withdraw from the event due to family reasons, opened up the field for other players to make their mark.

Vachier-Lagrave’s aggressive play and tactical skills were on full display as he navigated through challenging games to secure his lead. His victory over Aronian in a wild game set the tone for his successful day, with the Frenchman showcasing his ability to handle chaotic positions and capitalize on his opponent’s mistakes.

Caruana and So also put up strong performances, bouncing back from early setbacks to stay in contention for the top spot. With three rounds of rapid chess scheduled for the next two days followed by nine rounds of blitz over the weekend, the competition is expected to intensify as players vie for the tournament title.

The 2024 SuperUnited Croatia Rapid & Blitz is part of the Grand Chess Tour and features a lineup of top players competing in both rapid and blitz formats. Stay tuned for more updates and analysis as the tournament unfolds in Zagreb.