About the 2026 Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia
Marking the thrilling midway point of the Grand Chess Tour, the 2026 Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia brings ten of the world's elite grandmasters to Zagreb from June 29–July 6. As the second of three rapid and blitz spectacles on the 2026 tour, this high-stakes event features competitors battling under immense time pressure for crucial Tour Points heading toward the GCT Grand Finals.
The Field
The stellar 10-player lineup consists of six full-tour competitors and four powerhouse wildcards. Headlining the field is reigning World Champion and wildcard Gukesh Dommaraju, alongside full-tour standouts Vincent Keymer, Alireza Firouzja, Anish Giri, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, Jorden van Foreest, and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Joining them are elite wildcards Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Bogdan-Daniel Deac, and multiple-time Croatian champion Ivan Saric.
Prize Fund
The total prize fund for the event is $200,000, with the tournament victor taking home a first-place prize of $50,000. Every game and every point is critical as players fight for both a share of the purse and tier standings in the overall tour.
How to Watch
Catch every round live with world-class, expert commentary from Grandmasters Yasser Seirawan, Maurice Ashley, and Cristian Chirila, alongside International Master Nazi Paikidze. Watch all the action live on the Saint Louis Chess Club's YouTube channel and on Twitch.
Format
The tournament combines two fast-paced disciplines: a 9-round single round-robin Rapid tournament (played at a time control of 25 minutes plus a 10-second increment from move one) and an 18-round double round-robin Blitz tournament (played at 5 minutes plus a 2-second increment from move one). Rapid wins count for 2 points and draws for 1 point, while Blitz wins count for 1 point and draws for ½ point.
Event Schedule
The Players
Tournament Prize Fund
$200,000Tournament Sponsors
