Chess: D Gukesh Finishes Seventh at Superunited Rapid and Blitz; Fabiano Caruana Clinches Title

Zagreb (Croatia), Jul 15: Indian chess prodigy D Gukesh secured the seventh spot at the Superunited Rapid and Blitz tournament, emerging as the best performer among the Indian participants.

The top-seeded Fabiano Caruana from the United States clinched the title with a commanding performance, reinforcing his stature in the chess world.

Gukesh concluded the event with a total of 14 points. Fellow Indian player Vidit Gujrathi finished ninth, accumulating 11 points. Caruana's victory in the tournament followed his recent triumph at the Superbet Classic, marking a period of remarkable success for the American grandmaster.

Caruana's Dominant Display

Caruana's dominance was evident as he amassed a record 27 points over nine rounds of rapid and 18 rounds of blitz chess. This performance matched the record set by Norway's World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in 2019. Caruana's nearest competitors trailed by four points, underlining his superiority throughout the event. His efforts earned him a substantial $40,000 prize and propelled him to the top of the Grand Chess Tour standings.

Top Contenders and Standings

The second spot was shared by Alireza Firouzja of France, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France, and Wesley So of the USA, each scoring 23 points. Russia's Ian Nepomniachtchi followed in fifth place with 18.5 points, ahead of American Levon Aronian, who finished with 17 points.

Gukesh's performance will be scrutinized by his team as they prepare for the World Championship match against China's Ding Liren in November. In the rapid section, Gukesh scored nine points from a possible 18, with three wins, three draws, and three losses. However, he struggled in the blitz section, managing only five points from 18 games.

Vidit Gujrathi showed better form in the blitz segment, scoring seven points, but he faced challenges in the rapid games, securing just one win and two draws.

Grand Chess Tour Standings

Caruana's victory in Zagreb has significant implications for the Grand Chess Tour standings. With Indian sensation Praggnanandhaa absent from this tournament, Caruana now leads the table with 22.5 points. Firouzja is in second place with 17.58 points, while Praggnanandhaa has slipped to third with 16.25 points. The final two events in Saint Louis, USA, scheduled for August, will be crucial for determining the ultimate standings.

Superunited Rapid and Blitz Final Results

1. Fabiano Caruana (USA) - 27 points
2-4. Alireza Firouzja (FRA), Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA), Wesley So (USA) - 23 points each
5. Ian Nepomniachtchi (FID) - 18.5 points
6. Levon Aronian (USA) - 17 points
7. D Gukesh (IND) - 14 points
8. Anish Giri (NED) - 13.5 points
9. Vidit Gujrathi (IND) - 11 points
10. Ivan Saric (CRO) - 10 points