Alireza Firouzja Wins Thrilling Super Rapid and Blitz Croatia 2026 in Armageddon Playoff
Alireza Firouzja won Super Chess Rapid and Blitz Croatia 2026. What originally looked like a comfortable Sunday cruise for Alireza Firouzja transformed into one of the most nerve-wracking, volatile final days in the history of the tour, culminating in the first-ever GCT title decided by an Armageddon playoff. Alireza drew against Nodirbek Abdusattorov in Armageddon to win Super Chess Rapid and Blitz Croatia. Photo: Lennart Ootes
The Worst Blitz Day in My Career
Alireza Firouzja: "Today was the worst blitz day in my career! Actually, it's the worst day of my life, career-wise. I think I scored three out of nine, I think. So it's a really horrible performance. I'm happy that I managed to get the tiebreaks. I'm most proud of the game against Gukesh. I had to win that game to force the tiebreaks. So that game was really important. I was happy that I managed to find some tricks. I had more smooth wins before in the Grand Chess Tour, but this one...I take it anyway."
The Penultimate Round Twist
The tournament’s ultimate turning point arrived in Round 17. Facing a red-hot Gukesh, who had just strung together three consecutive wins, Firouzja found himself in a completely lost position. Yet, with his tournament life on the line, Firouzja conjured pure magic from a dead-lost board, turning the tables on the World Champion to secure a monumental win. A final-round draw against Abdusattorov left them deadlocked at 23½ points each.
Replay final day games
Final Standings
What It Means for the GCT Race
With the European leg of the 2026 Grand Chess Tour officially wrapped up, the tour now shifts across the Atlantic to Saint Louis, Missouri. While Fabiano Caruana still commands the overall tour standings, Vincent Keymer sits comfortably in second, and Firouzja’s dramatic victory has vaulted him cleanly into third place as the race to the GCT Finals heats up.
Venue: The Westin Zagreb
The Westin Zagreb Hotel is centrally located in the very heart of Zagreb. Our conference hotel is situated in a leafy area in Zagreb, adjacent to the Mimara Museum and the world-famous National Theatre and Opera House. Our location is within easy walking distance to the central square, markets, the many trendy cafés, restaurants, designer boutiques, rich cultural attractions, and capital city business destinations.
Participants
Format and Schedule
The event follows the same structure as previous Super Rapid & Blitz tournaments. It is a single 10-player round robin in the Rapid section, followed by a double round robin in the Blitz.
Round 1 begins daily at 3:00 p.m. local time (6:30 p.m. IST)
The player with the best combined score across Rapid and Blitz will be declared tournament champion.
Prize Fund
The total prize fund for the event is US $200,000 for the Rapid event and US $200,000 for the Blitz event. The top three finishers in each section will take home $50,000, $40,000, and $30,000, respectively.
Important Links
Grand Chess Tour: Official Site, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Photo Gallery
Super Rapid and Blitz Croatia: Official Site, Tickets, Results and Standings
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