Fabiano Caruana SuperUnited Croatia 2024: Unstoppable Caruana Dominates SuperUnited Croatia: A Grand Chess Tour Masterclass

Fabiano Caruana was simply unstoppable at the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Tournament in Croatia. The US chess star claimed his second consecutive victory in a Grand Chess Tour event with five rounds to spare, entering the final day of action with a 4½-point lead and scoring 3½ points in the first four rounds played on Sunday. In a close battle for second place, Wesley So, Alireza Firouzja, and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave ended up tied with 23 points each.

Held in the picturesque city of Zagreb, the tournament saw some of the world’s best players competing fiercely. Caruana’s performance was nothing short of spectacular, as he drew only 7 out of the 27 games he played over five days, achieving 16 wins and 4 losses. His overall score of 27 out of 36 points, with wins in the rapid section counting as 2 points each, tied the best-ever performance in a Rapid & Blitz event of the Grand Chess Tour. This record was previously set by Magnus Carlsen at the 2019 Tata Steel Chess India event in Kolkata.

Caruana’s Unstoppable Journey

Fabiano Caruana’s journey in the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Tournament was marked by strategic brilliance and consistent play. By the time he reached the second half of the blitz rounds on Sunday, he had already established a commanding lead. An impressive start with 3½ points in the first four rounds of the day secured Caruana the overall victory with five rounds to spare. In his final five games, he added 2 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses to his tally, solidifying his dominance in the tournament.

Caruana’s exceptional performance not only earned him the US$ 40,000 prize for first place but also propelled him to the top of the Grand Chess Tour standings. The Miami-born grandmaster, known for his theoretical knowledge and remarkable calculation abilities, has historically been regarded as a strong classical player. However, in recent years, he has shown remarkable improvement in rapid and blitz formats. He is now ranked second in the world in the rapid live ranking and sixth in the world in the blitz live ranking.

The Contenders for Second Place

With Caruana securing overall victory early, the battle for second place became the center of attention. Wesley So, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and Alireza Firouzja all showed tremendous skill and determination. Wesley So and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave were Caruana’s closest chasers entering the final day, and they both shared second place going into the tournament’s final round. Alireza Firouzja, who was only half a point behind them, managed to catch up by defeating Ivan Saric in the final round.

The three contenders ended up tied for second place with 23 points each. Their remarkable performances demonstrated the high level of competition and the razor-thin margins that often separate the top players in the world. Firouzja, like Caruana, had competed in both Bucharest and Zagreb but did not participate in Warsaw. He now stands in sole second place in the Grand Chess Tour standings.

Looking Ahead

The Grand Chess Tour continues next month with the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz and the Sinquefield Cup, set to take place back-to-back from August 10 to August 31. These events will be crucial in determining the overall standings and the eventual winner of this prestigious series.

Final Standings at SuperUnited Croatia

Fabiano Caruana (USA) – Rapid: 15, Blitz: 12, Total: 27, Tour Points: 13, Prize Money: $40,000
Wesley So (USA) – Rapid: 12, Blitz: 11, Total: 23, Tour Points: 8.33, Prize Money: $25,000
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) – Rapid: 10, Blitz: 13, Total: 23, Tour Points: 8.33, Prize Money: $25,000
Alireza Firouzja (FRA) – Rapid: 10, Blitz: 13, Total: 23, Tour Points: 8.33, Prize Money: $25,000
Ian Nepomniachtchi (FIDE) – Rapid: 10, Blitz: 8.5, Total: 18.5, Tour Points: 6, Prize Money: $15,000
Levon Aronian (USA) – Rapid: 11, Blitz: 6, Total: 17, WC (5), Prize Money: $11,000
Gukesh D (IND) – Rapid: 9, Blitz: 5, Total: 14, Tour Points: 4, Prize Money: $10,000
Anish Giri (NED) – Rapid: 6, Blitz: 7.5, Total: 13.5, Tour Points: 3, Prize Money: $9,000
Vidit Gujrathi (IND) – Rapid: 4, Blitz: 7, Total: 11, WC (2), Prize Money: $8,000
Ivan Saric (CRO) – Rapid: 3, Blitz: 7, Total: 10, WC (1), Prize Money: $7,000

Fabiano Caruana’s dominance at the SuperUnited Croatia tournament is a testament to his incredible skill and dedication. As the chess world eagerly anticipates the next events in the Grand Chess Tour, fans can look forward to more thrilling matches and outstanding performances from the world’s best players.

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