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Day 3 of SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia 2025: Gukesh Lead
World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju is leading the day 3 of 2025 SuperUnited Croatia Rapid & Blitz after a strong performance in the rapid section. He scored 14 out of 18 points, extending his lead over GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda to three points and staying four points ahead of GM Magnus Carlsen.
Chasing him are GMs Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu and Fabiano Caruana, who are five points behind.
Gukesh’s Winning Streak Ends, But His Lead Grows
Gukesh’s five-game winning streak ended with two draws on day three.
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Against GM Anish Giri, he pushed for a win but had to settle for a draw by repetition.
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Next, he dominated the opening vs. GM Ivan Saric, gained a winning advantage, but couldn’t break through Saric’s solid defense. Saric admitted, “I was very lucky not to be lost.”
Despite these draws, Gukesh stayed calm and focused.
Gukesh Crushes Wesley So
In the third game, Gukesh bounced back with a powerful win over GM Wesley So, who had a tough day overall. A mistake by So (16…Qc6?) allowed Gukesh to take over completely.
Gukesh later said,
It’s really nice to get a dominating game like this!
This victory helped Gukesh finish the rapid section in first place with 14 points.
Caruana Praises Gukesh, Cautions Against Hype
Fabiano Caruana, who lost to Gukesh earlier, praised the youngster’s play:
“He’s been very impressive… His wins are not just prep—they’re practical, sharp, and well-calculated.”
However, Caruana wasn’t convinced by Garry Kasparov’s comments about Gukesh’s era of dominance. Gukesh himself remained humble:
“I’m just working hard, one game at a time. There’s still a long way to go.”
He also remembered to shout out his cousin, who had predicted his win over Carlsen!
Duda & Carlsen Lead the Chasers
GM Duda is the only player to beat Gukesh so far. He stayed unbeaten but only drew all three of his games on day three, increasing the gap to Gukesh.
One of those games, against GM Abdusattorov, lasted 156 moves!
Meanwhile, Carlsen had an up-and-down day:
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He defeated Caruana in a wild game.
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Couldn’t press for a win against Abdusattorov.
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Fought hard against Giri in a marathon 133-move game, but it ended in a theoretical draw.
Carlsen is four points behind Gukesh and will need a big blitz performance to catch up.
Caruana Strikes Back
Caruana rebounded strongly after his loss to Carlsen:
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He beat Giri.
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Then defeated Saric in a brilliant tactical game.
He explained how a risky move by Saric led to a trap that cost him the game. Caruana’s comeback shows he’s still in good form heading into the blitz rounds.
What’s Next?
The rapid section is over, but 18 blitz games remain—9 on Saturday and 9 on Sunday. Will Gukesh hold his lead like Caruana did in 2024, or will someone catch him?
How to Watch
Watch the action live on the Saint Louis Chess Club YouTube channel or follow the games on the official Grand Chess Tour events page.
Tournament Info
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Event: 2025 SuperUnited Croatia Rapid & Blitz
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Location: Westin Hotel, Zagreb, Croatia
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Dates: July 2–6
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Format:
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Rapid: 25+10, single round-robin
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Blitz: 5+2, double round-robin
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Tour: 3rd event of the 2025 Grand Chess Tour
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Players: 10 of the world’s best grandmasters
Photos: Lennart Ootes/Grand Chess Tour
Source: CHESS.com
