Key Points:
- Indian world champion D Gukesh defeats Magnus Carlsen in round 6 of the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia, marking his fifth consecutive win in the tournament.
- Gukesh now leads the tournament with 10 points, two ahead of his nearest rival, while Carlsen lags behind at 6 points.
- Gukesh’s victory comes after Carlsen previously dismissed him as a “weaker player” in pre-tournament comments.
- Chess legend Garry Kasparov hails Gukesh’s resilience, calling his play “computer-like” and stating, “Now we can question Magnus’ domination”.
- Carlsen, who had a significant advantage early in the game, blundered with 23.b4 and ultimately resigned after 49 moves.
- This is Gukesh’s second straight win over Carlsen, following his Norway Chess triumph last month.
New Delhi: Indian chess prodigy and reigning world champion D Gukesh delivered another seismic shock to the chess world by defeating World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in the sixth round of the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia 2025, part of the Grand Chess Tour in Zagreb. This win marks Gukesh’s fifth consecutive victory in the tournament, propelling him to the top of the leaderboard with 10 points and raising serious questions about Carlsen’s longstanding dominance in elite chess.
The Build-Up: Gukesh’s Relentless Form
Gukesh’s performance in Zagreb has been nothing short of extraordinary. After dropping his opening game to Jan-Krzysztof Duda, the 18-year-old rebounded with wins over top grandmasters Alireza Firouzja, R Praggnanandhaa, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Fabiano Caruana, setting up a much-anticipated clash with Carlsen. Carlsen, who had downplayed Gukesh’s rapid and blitz credentials before the tournament, was forced to eat his words as Gukesh outmaneuvered him in a high-stakes encounter.
The Match: From Carlsen’s Advantage to Gukesh’s Brilliance
- Opening: Carlsen, playing white, opted for the English Opening and quickly built a strong position. By move 20, he held a significant edge on the board and on the clock.
- Turning Point: On move 23, Carlsen pushed his b-pawn to b4 a decision that shocked commentators, including Garry Kasparov, who exclaimed, “You don’t play b4, you just don’t play b4!”
- Gukesh’s Counterplay: Gukesh seized the opportunity, launching a precise counterattack with 26…d5 and gradually turning the tables. As Carlsen’s clock ticked down, his position deteriorated rapidly.
- Endgame: With no resources left and under severe time pressure, Carlsen resigned after 49 moves. Unlike the emotional table-thump seen after his Norway Chess loss, this time Carlsen offered a quiet handshake and exited the stage, visibly frustrated.
Reactions: Praise for Gukesh, Reflection from Carlsen
Gukesh’s victory drew high praise from chess legend Garry Kasparov, who compared the Indian’s resilience to that of a computer and declared,
“Now we can question Magnus’ domination. This is not just his second loss to Gukesh, it’s a convincing loss. It was a real fight. And Magnus lost.”
Carlsen himself admitted,
“It was poor from me, but all credit to Gukesh. He’s playing well and taking his chances. I got soundly punished… All credit to Gukesh; he’s doing incredibly well now. Winning five games in a row is no mean feat.”
A New Era in Chess?
With this win, Gukesh has not only silenced critics who doubted his rapid and blitz prowess but also established himself as a formidable force against the very best in the world. As the tournament heads into its final day, Gukesh holds a commanding two-point lead, while Carlsen faces mounting pressure to reclaim his footing.
The chess world is watching closely: is this the end of Carlsen’s era, and the dawn of Gukesh’s reign at the top?
