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World champion D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa will headline the Zagreb Rapid and Blitz Grand Chess Tour event.
D Gukesh (left) and R Praggnanandhaa (Agencies)
World champion D Gukesh may have stepped away from classical chess for the time being, but he remains committed to elite competitions. The Indian grandmaster will compete against some of the strongest players in the world at the Zagreb Rapid and Blitz Tournament, which begins on Wednesday.
The tournament is part of the Grand Chess Tour (GCT), the premier circuit that brings together the world’s leading players. Zagreb marks the third stop on this year’s GCT calendar, with three more events scheduled later in the season.
Joining Gukesh in the field is fellow Indian star R Praggnanandhaa, who arrives in Croatia after his landmark triumph at Norway Chess, where he finished ahead of world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen.
Tournament Details
Tournament Schedule: June 29–July 6
Venue: Zagreb (Croatia)
Live Streaming: Saint Louis Chess Club’s YouTube & Twitch channels.
Tournament Prize Fund: $200,000
Tournament Format
Players will contest nine rounds of rapid chess followed by 18 rounds of blitz. In the rapid section, a win earns two points while a draw is worth one. In blitz, players receive one point for a victory and half a point for a draw.
Gukesh had surprisingly walked out of the GCT citing his recent performances. The reigning world champion is set to defend his title against Javokhir Sindarov later this year, with opinions divided over who will emerge victorious.
Although he opted out of the main events, Gukesh has agreed to participate in the rapid and blitz competitions as a wildcard entrant.
For Praggnanandhaa, the focus will be on how he adapts to the faster formats. His Norway Chess title was built on determination and flawlessly executed plans, making him the first Indian to win the prestigious event.
Other Challengers
Germany’s Vincent Keymer, the Netherlands’ Anish Giri and France’s Alireza Firouzja have become regular fixtures at elite tournaments and enter the competition among the highest-rated contenders.
France’s Maxime Vachier-Lagrave is another formidable presence in the field, while Jorden van Foreest joins the tournament after being added as a last-minute participant on the tour.
The line-up is completed by Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Croatia’s Ivan Šarić and Romania’s Bogdan-Daniel Deac, ensuring a high-quality field that is expected to keep chess fans glued to the action throughout the week.
With PTI Inputs
About the Author
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience …Read More
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