It does for me?
Is there another application in your OS which is hijacking the shortcut? 

Does for me too, as does clicking the middle button (scroll wheel) on my mouse.

I don't think there's an OS app that would do this - it comes up as a notification on the RHS of the chrome address bar saying "pop-up blocked". It's like Chrome has gotten confused between user initiated clicks and automated pop-ups.

timmmay:

 

I don't think there's an OS app that would do this - it comes up as a notification on the RHS of the chrome address bar saying "pop-up blocked". It's like Chrome has gotten confused between user initiated clicks and automated pop-ups.

 

Backup bookmarks, passwords and reinstall. Chrome is Chrome... I do this at work every now and again cause Chrome will decide to start opening in window sizes larger than my screen resolution and a lot of other weird things. 

I open a new window or drag a tab into desktop to open a new window, it doesn't remember your favorite dimensions like it used to. Reinstall seems to fix this. If the entire internet wasn't made for Chromium then I'd use something else.. 

I had a quick play, using the notification you can allow pop-ups on specific websites. It's odd though that it's decided to class user clicks as pop-ups.

Chrome 71.0.3578.98 on Windows 10-64.

Working ok for me - didn't know it existed.

Version 71.0.3578.98 (Official Build) (64-bit) Windows 10

I always use right click (open link in a new tab) on links.

What about middle button?  I've always used that.

Middle button does same as control click.

timmmay:

 

Middle button does same as control click.

 

So that doesn't work for you either?

Looks like you aren't the only one having this issue, where middle click is being treated as a pop up https://www.reddit.com/r/chrome/comments/aed4ot/chrome_treating_middleclicks_as_popups/

Version 71.0.3578.98 (Official Build) (64-bit)

no issues here with ctrl click or middle mouse button (scroll wheel)

maybe you have malware?

Version 71.0.3578.98 (Official Build) (64-bit)

No issues for me either, with ctrl click, middle mouse click.

I did a malware scan today. Anyway, malware wouldn't prevent you opening pop-ups so much as make more. 

Based on link above it seems like a bug in Windows / Chrome.

Uploads are also broken, here on Geekzone and other forums.