# Chess in the Last 24 Hours: Firouzja Flies in Zagreb, Carlsen Slips but Stays #1

> Big chess news from the last 24 hours. In Zagreb, Alireza Firouzja leads day one of the Grand Chess Tour's Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia on 5/6, with Giri, Keymer, Praggnanandhaa and Vachier-Lagrave one point back after MVL toppled World Champion Gukesh. Meanwhile, the new FIDE July ratings show Magnus Carlsen slip 18 points yet stay world number one, as Praggnanandhaa climbs and Gukesh dips before his November title defense.

_By PrimeChess Team, Chess for Everyone · Jul 2, 2026_

# Chess in the Last 24 Hours: Firouzja Flies in Zagreb, Carlsen Slips but Stays #1

A lot happened in the chess world in the last 24 hours. A big new tournament kicked off in Croatia, and fresh world rankings landed with a few surprises. Here is the story, told simply.

## A fast start in Zagreb

The **Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia** began in Zagreb on July 1. It is part of the Grand Chess Tour, one of the biggest series in the game. The players here are not just strong. Six of them sit inside the world's top 20.

Day one was rapid chess. That means quicker games, less time to think, and more drama. One player rose above the rest: **Alireza Firouzja**. He won two games and drew one to finish the day on 5/6. (Here a win counts 2 points and a draw 1.) He beat Ivan Saric and Bogdan-Daniel Deac, and held a draw against Anish Giri. Neither win was easy, but he found a way.

Just behind him sit four players, one point back:

- **Anish Giri**
- **Vincent Keymer**
- **Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu**
- **Maxime Vachier-Lagrave**

Vachier-Lagrave, or "MVL" as fans call him, opened with a shock. He beat the reigning World Champion, **Gukesh Dommaraju**, in the very first round.

The best part? This is only the start. Six more rounds of rapid are still to come, and then 18 rounds of blitz. Blitz is faster and wilder. Anyone in this group could still lift the trophy.

## New world rankings, new surprises

On the same day, FIDE, the world chess body, released its July rankings. The headline was about the man at the very top.

**Magnus Carlsen** lost 18 rating points. That is a big drop for a player like him. Yet he still holds the number-one spot, a place he has kept without a break for 15 years. He is also the only player in the world rated above 2800. So even on a down month, he stands alone.

Not everyone had good news. Gukesh had a tough time at the recent Norway Chess event, finished last there, and dropped 15 points. He slipped just outside the world's top 25.

There was joy too. **Praggnanandhaa**, a young Indian star, won Norway Chess with a late run of four wins in a row. He climbed 15 points and is now world number 11.

Here is a simple look at the top of the July list:

| Rank | Player | Rating | Change |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Magnus Carlsen | 2823 | -18 |
| 2 | Fabiano Caruana | 2792 | — |
| 3 | Hikaru Nakamura | 2792 | — |
| 4 | Javokhir Sindarov | 2777 | — |

## Looking ahead

Here is something to keep in mind. Later this year, in November, Gukesh will defend his world title. His challenger is **Javokhir Sindarov** of Uzbekistan. He is only 20 years old and now sits at world number four. A dip in form now means little. The real test comes in the autumn.

For today, though, all eyes are on Zagreb. The clocks are ticking, the games are quick, and the fight is wide open. Chess, it turns out, never sits still.