Alireza Firouzja Wins Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia 2026 After Historic Armageddon Thriller
GM Alireza Firouzja of France won the Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia 2026 in one of the most dramatic finishes in Grand Chess Tour (GCT) history.
For the first time ever, a Grand Chess Tour event was decided by an Armageddon tiebreak. Firouzja defeated GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan after an unforgettable final day in Zagreb.
A Thrilling Finish to the Tournament
Firouzja entered the final day with a comfortable three-point lead. It looked like the title was already his. However, Abdusattorov staged an incredible comeback. He won several important games while Firouzja struggled in the blitz rounds. As a result, both players finished level on points and forced a playoff.
The two rapid tiebreak games ended without a winner. Therefore, the championship was decided by an Armageddon blitz game. Firouzja held his nerve under pressure and won the decisive game. He lifted the trophy and took home the $47,500 first prize. Abdusattorov finished as runner-up and earned $42,500.
Zagreb Hosted the World’s Best Players
The Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia 2026 took place in Zagreb from June 29 to July 6. It was the third event of the 2026 Grand Chess Tour and the second rapid and blitz tournament of the season.
The tournament featured 10 elite grandmasters, including six full-tour players and four wildcards. The strong lineup included:
- Gukesh Dommaraju (World Champion)
- Alireza Firouzja
- Vincent Keymer
- Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu
- Anish Giri
- Jorden van Foreest
- Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
- Nodirbek Abdusattorov
- Bogdan-Daniel Deac
- Ivan Saric
Every round produced exciting games, making the event one of the highlights of the Grand Chess Tour.
Organizers Praise the Event
Augusta Dragic, President of the Super Foundation, praised the tournament and its players.
She said that when the world’s best players compete, chess is the real winner. She also congratulated Firouzja on his impressive victory and thanked every participant for making the event a fantastic showcase of elite chess.
Firouzja Reflects on His Victory
Despite winning the tournament, Firouzja admitted that the final blitz day was one of the toughest of his career. He revealed that he scored only 3 points out of 9 in the blitz games. Even so, he stayed focused and managed to win when it mattered the most.
Firouzja also explained that defeating Gukesh in the penultimate round was essential to reach the playoff. He was happy to find the winning chances at the right time and secure the title.
Grand Chess Tour Race Heats Up
After three events, the battle for a place in the 2026 Grand Chess Tour Finals is becoming more exciting. Even though he did not play in Croatia, Fabiano Caruana remains the overall tour leader.
Vincent Keymer has moved into second place. Firouzja’s victory lifts him to third in the standings, while Wesley So currently occupies fourth place.
The Grand Chess Tour now moves to Saint Louis, Missouri, where the remaining regular-season events will decide the four finalists for the 2026 Grand Chess Tour Finals. The season will conclude at the Saint Louis Chess Club, widely known as the Chess Capital of America.
Photos: FIDE_Chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
