Grand Chess Tour Croatia 2026: Firouzja Surges Into the Lead

The elite chess circuit has rolled straight on from Norway Chess to Croatia, and it is Alireza Firouzja who has seized the early initiative. The French grandmaster opened up a commanding three-point lead at the 2026 Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia — a leg of the Grand Chess Tour — after a superb second day at the board.

Firouzja’s Big Day

Firouzja’s advantage was built on two statement victories with the black pieces, defeating both Vincent Keymer and the in-form Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu. Winning with black against opposition of that calibre is no small feat, and doing so on the same day underlined the Frenchman’s sharp form in the faster time controls, where his creativity and speed make him a formidable competitor.

The Context

The tournament comes hot on the heels of Norway Chess, where Praggnanandhaa produced a stunning four-game winning streak to claim the title and where Magnus Carlsen retained his position as world number one. The rapid and blitz formats in Croatia offer a very different challenge, rewarding quick calculation and nerve, and Firouzja has adapted fastest.

Key Talking Points

A three-point lead in a rapid-and-blitz event is significant but far from decisive, given how quickly momentum can swing in the faster formats. Firouzja will know that his rivals — Praggnanandhaa and Keymer among them — are more than capable of hitting back. For now, though, the initiative belongs to the Frenchman, and his black-piece heroics have set the tone for a compelling event.

What’s Next

The blitz portion of the tournament will determine the final standings, with Firouzja aiming to convert his advantage into a title. Prime Hunt Daily will keep you across the biggest results and rivalries in world chess.