Just days after being dismissed by Magnus Carlsen as “one of the presumably weaker players,” India’s 18-year-old world champion D. Gukesh delivered a stunning response—by defeating the world No. 1 on the board. Playing with the Black pieces in round six of the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia 2025, Gukesh beat Carlsen for the second consecutive time, rising to the top of the standings with 10 points from six games.
Their previous encounter, a classical match at Norway Chess, ended with Carlsen visibly frustrated. This time in Zagreb, though the format was rapid, the result was the same: a composed and clinical Gukesh once again outplayed the Norwegian icon.
Tactical Masterclass
Carlsen opened with the English and gained a slight edge after 18…Nh5 19.Bf2!, but Gukesh found his rhythm with an incisive 26…d5, flipping the momentum. As Carlsen’s clock dipped below a minute and his position deteriorated, he was eventually forced to resign after 49 moves.
Gukesh, who sat at the board early and calm before the match began, showed no signs of nerves. His performance was so commanding that Garry Kasparov, commentating on the event, remarked:
“Now we can question Magnus’ domination. This isn’t just another loss. It’s a convincing one. Gukesh didn’t just capitalise on mistakes—he played better.”
Rising Momentum
Despite a slow start to the day—losing his first game to Jan-Krzysztof Duda—Gukesh bounced back in style, defeating Alireza Firouzja, R Praggnanandhaa, and Carlsen in succession. “I wasn’t too disheartened after the first-round loss,” he said. “Duda got a good position and played well.”
Gukesh ends day two of the rapid section with 10 points out of 12, firmly in the lead. In the Grand Chess Tour format, rapid wins award 2 points, while blitz games (up next) offer 1 point per win.
Carlsen’s Inconsistent Day
Carlsen, meanwhile, had an uneven day. He beat Wesley So but was held to draws by Ivan Šarić and Duda, and now trails Gukesh by four points. The defeat to Gukesh—especially following his dismissive remarks earlier in the week—will sting.
Other Highlights
- Wesley So was the only other player besides Gukesh to be involved in all decisive games, defeating Fabiano Caruana and Anish Giri.
- With the blitz rounds set to begin, the leaderboard is tight behind Gukesh, but the young Indian star appears in peak form, ready to carry his momentum into the final stretch.
Gukesh is no longer the underdog. In Croatia, he’s making it clear: he’s here to stay—and to dominate.
