Firouzja Extends Lead at 2026 Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia with Stellar Day Two Performance

Alireza Firouzja Extends Lead at 2026 Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia

ZAGREB, Croatia — In a thrilling display of chess mastery, Grandmaster Alireza Firouzja has opened up a commanding three-point lead after a stellar performance on day two of the 2026 Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia. Competing with the black pieces, Firouzja triumphed over key rivals GM Vincent Keymer and GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, solidifying his position at the top of the leaderboard.

For the second consecutive day, Firouzja scored an impressive five points out of a possible six, showcasing his tactical prowess and strategic depth. His victories were particularly notable as they came against opponents who were just a point behind him at the start of the day.

In round four, Keymer appeared poised to take the lead but fell victim to a cunning trap set by Firouzja. The Iranian-born French star capitalized on Keymer’s miscalculation, turning the tide in his favor. Keymer did manage to recover later in the day, executing a brilliant move against local hero GM Ivan Saric, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap with Firouzja.

Meanwhile, Firouzja opted for a quick draw against GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, conserving energy for a tense final game against Praggnanandhaa. The match turned into a nail-biter, with both players facing time pressure. Firouzja, reflecting on the game, noted, “I played two or three moves with two seconds. I think that affected everything. I didn’t make a mistake, so that was very important, and I just stayed in the game!” His perseverance paid off, as he ultimately clinched victory in a grueling 79-move endgame.

As Firouzja celebrated his wins, he humorously pondered whether to stay awake for the Portugal-Croatia match in the FIFA World Cup, scheduled for 1 a.m. local time. “Now the only question is if I should stay awake to watch the game or not!” he quipped.

The day also saw GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac start strong with a win over GM Gukesh Dommaraju, but the reigning world champion bounced back with victories over the Dutch duo of GMs Jorden van Foreest and Anish Giri, ending the day tied for second place alongside Deac, Keymer, and Vachier-Lagrave.

As the tournament progresses, Gukesh, who trails Firouzja by three points, will have a chance to narrow the gap when he faces Firouzja in the first round of the final day of rapid chess. The stakes are high, as the rapid rounds will be followed by 18 rounds of blitz over the weekend.

The 2026 Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia is the third event of the Grand Chess Tour, running from July 1-5 at the Westin Hotel in Zagreb. With the competition heating up, chess enthusiasts worldwide are eagerly anticipating the next round of action.

Day three kicks off on Friday, July 3, at 9 a.m. ET / 15:00 CEST / 6:30 p.m. IST.