Magnus Carlsen may have coasted to another blitz title in Zagreb—his 10th in 12 Grand Chess Tour rapid & blitz events—but the bigger picture is what Croatia’s role in the chess world now represents.
Hosting legends like Carlsen, So, Caruana, and World Champion Gukesh, the SuperUnited Croatia Rapid & Blitz has become more than a tournament: it’s a magnet for global attention.
As Carlsen joked about playing “old man chess” while dominating his sixth straight 2025 win, the Adria region quietly tightened its grip on the global sporting map—not just in football or tennis, but on the 64 squares too.
