Exciting Wildcards Announced for 2025 Grand Chess Tour Events

World number-one Magnus Carlsen is set to make a return to the chess scene as he prepares to play in the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia event. The tournament will also see the comeback of 50-year-old former world number-one Veselin Topalov, who will be competing in the Superbet Rapid & Blitz Poland.

The Grand Chess Tour has announced the wildcards for the first three events of the 2025 season, including rising Indian GM Aravindh Chithambaram and GM Anish Giri. The lineup for the tournaments in Poland, Romania, and Croatia features a mix of established players and exciting newcomers.

Carlsen, who will not be defending his title, will be taking a break after participating in Freestyle Chess events in Paris and Karlsruhe. The lineup for the tournaments includes familiar faces like Alireza Firouzja and Jan-Krzysztof Duda, as well as wildcard entries like Vladimir Fedoseev and Aravindh Chithambaram.

One of the most anticipated names in the lineup is Veselin Topalov, who has been mostly retired from competitive chess in recent years. Topalov will be looking to make a mark in the Grand Chess Tour events after a long hiatus.

The tournaments in Poland, Romania, and Croatia promise to be exciting, with a mix of seasoned players and fresh talent competing for top honors. Stay tuned for more updates on the Grand Chess Tour as the season progresses.