'My B-game is usually enough': Magnus Carlsen reacts after dominating Grand Chess Tour 2025

Magnus Carlsen proved once again why he is considered one of the greatest chess players of all time. The former World Champion completely dominated the Super United Rapid and Blitz tournament in Zagreb, Croatia, winning the title with a round to spare. The tournament was part of the Grand Chess Tour 2025.

Carlsen finished at the top of the leaderboard with 22.5 out of 36 points. He looked calm and confident throughout the tournament and defeated local boy Ivan Saric in the final round to win the trophy. After winning the title, Carlsen gave an honest reaction that caught everyone’s attention.

Carlsen's first reaction after SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz win

"When nobody else has a great performance, my B-game is usually enough. Always striving for more though!" the current World No. 1 wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

More from Chess

Carlsen had finished third in the rapid section of the tournament held from 2 to 4 July. Current World Champion Dommaraju Gukesh had secured the first place with 14 out of 18 points in the rapid leg. Carlsen had just 10 points going into the blitz section of the Grand Chess Tour event.

However, the five-time world champion made a remarkable comeback, scoring 12.5 points in the blitz section, which helped him finish at the top of the overall standings. Thanks to his victory, Carlsen won USD 40,000 as prize money out of the total pool of USD 1,75,000.

American Grandmaster Wesley So finished second with 20 points and took home USD 30,000, while Gukesh won USD 25,000 after securing third place with 19.5 points. Gukesh edged Duda Jan-Krzysztof of Poland and Alireza Firouzja of France by just 0.5 points to secure the podium finish.

SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia: Final standings

1. Carlsen (Norway, 22.5 points)

2. Wesley So (USA, 20 points)

3. D Gukesh (India, 19.5 points)

4-5. Duda Jan-Krzysztof (Poland), Alireza Firouzja (France) 19 points each

6. Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan, 18 points)

7-8. Fabiano Caruana (USA), Anish Giri (Netherlands) 17 points each

9. R Praggnanandhaa (India, 15 points)

10. Ivan Saric (Croatia, 13 points)