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Alireza Firouzja is on fire at the Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia in Zagreb. In the last 24 hours he won two more games to reach 10/12, three points clear of the chasing pack. World Champion Gukesh lost, then bounced back with two wins. Their showdown comes Friday. A simple, warm look at the day's chess.
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.
A quick, friendly roundup of the last 24 hours in chess. FIDE's new July 2026 rating list keeps Magnus Carlsen world number one after a rough Norway Chess, with Caruana and Nakamura close behind. Praggnanandhaa climbs after his Norway win, GM Jose Martinez dominates Titled Tuesday, and the 54th World Open begins in Washington, D.C.
Ten of the world's best players have just begun the 2026 Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia in Zagreb, a fast-chess event running June 29 to July 6. The star field includes World Champion Gukesh, Norway Chess winner Praggnanandhaa, and speed master Alireza Firouzja, all chasing a $200,000 prize. Plus a look back at Nihal Sarin's stunning Bullet Chess Championship win. An easy, friendly guide to the chess news of the last 24 hours.
Over the past weekend, Indian grandmaster Nihal Sarin pulled off a stunning run to win the 2026 Bullet Chess Championship, beating three-time defending champion Alireza Firouzja with an unbelievable 15-game winning streak. Here is a simple, friendly look at the big upset, what 'bullet' chess is, and the major events coming next.
In the last 24 hours, Indian grandmaster Nihal Sarin won the 2026 Bullet Chess Championship. He beat three-time champion Alireza Firouzja with an incredible 15 wins in a row. It was his first-ever final, and he called it the best bullet chess of his life. Here is the simple, warm story of a magical day on the board.
In the last 24 hours, the world's fastest players fought in the 2026 Bullet Chess Championship online. Three-time champion Alireza Firouzja reached the Grand Final by beating Arjun Erigaisi 13-11 in a wild match. Today, June 27, a new speed-chess champion is crowned. Plus, six young world champions were named at the World Youth Championships in Italy. A story of speed, courage, and dreams.
In the last 24 hours at the 2026 Bullet Chess Championship, Alireza Firouzja edged Nihal Sarin 12.5-9.5 and Arjun Erigaisi stormed back from 0-4 down to beat Andrew Tang 16-6. Two Turkish teenagers crushed grandmasters in the Losers Bracket. One-minute chess, full of drama. Here is the simple, fun story of who is now in the Final.
In the last 24 hours, Germany crowned two new rapid chess champions in Paderborn. Alexander Donchenko started with three draws, then won six games in a row to take the men's title. Olga Babiy bounced back from a single loss to win the women's title. A warm, simple story of speed chess, comebacks, and a club's 100th birthday.