Chess World Champion Magnus Carlsen once again proved his dominance in faster formats by winning the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia, part of the Grand Chess Tour. However, his victory was accompanied by a subtle jab at his critics, followed by the swift deletion of his social media post, creating a buzz in the chess community.
A Masterful Comeback
Carlsen’s win in Zagreb marks his sixth successive Rapid & Blitz triumph on the Grand Chess Tour. He secured the title with 22.5 points, pulling away from a strong field in emphatic fashion.
The Norwegian’s performance was particularly remarkable given that he started the blitz section trailing reigning World Champion D Gukesh, who had a dominant run in the rapid portion of the tournament, including a win against Carlsen himself. Carlsen, however, unleashed a “decisive” run in the first day of blitz, scoring an impressive 7.5/9 to erase Gukesh’s lead and seize control.
The Cryptic “Haters” Post
Following his victory, Carlsen took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to share a cryptic post. The image showed a nail falling next to a phone, accompanied by the single word “Haters.” The implied message, widely interpreted, was “Haters are so quiet you can hear the nail drop,” signifying their silence in the face of his continued success. This was seen as a subtle jab at critics and perhaps those who had questioned his form or comments earlier in the week.
The Controversy Leading Up to the Win
The “haters” comment was likely fueled by Carlsen’s own pre-tournament remarks regarding D Gukesh. Days before the event, Carlsen had controversially called Gukesh “one of the presumably weaker players” in the field, a comment that raised eyebrows, especially as Gukesh had recently defeated Carlsen in a classical game at Norway Chess. Gukesh responded by delivering a second consecutive win over Carlsen, this time in the rapid format in Zagreb, further intensifying the rivalry.
Swift Deletion of the Post
Despite the initial celebratory and defiant tone, Carlsen later deleted the “Haters” tweet from his X account on Sunday. The reason for the deletion remains unknown, but it added another layer to the intriguing narrative surrounding his victory.
Gukesh’s Strong Rapid Performance and Blitz Struggles
While Carlsen ultimately triumphed, it’s important to note Gukesh’s strong showing in the rapid section. The Indian prodigy dominated, securing six wins, including victories over Carlsen and Wesley So, and held a three-point lead heading into the blitz portion. However, Gukesh experienced a “brutal collapse” in the blitz games, ultimately finishing third in the tournament. Carlsen himself acknowledged Gukesh’s strong rapid play, stating he “got soundly punished” in their rapid encounter.
Carlsen’s win in Zagreb reaffirms his status as a formidable force in rapid and blitz chess, even as he continues to engage in playful, albeit sometimes controversial, interactions with the chess world.
