New Delhi: Indian chess prodigy Gukesh D continues to send shockwaves through the global chess circuit, defeating Magnus Carlsen for the second time in less than a month — this time in the rapid format at the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia 2025 tournament in Zagreb. The reigning world champion outclassed the Norwegian great once again, extending his winning streak to five games and taking the sole lead with 10 points at the end of Day 2. Carlsen, meanwhile, is trailing with just six points.
The victory further cements Gukesh’s meteoric rise, especially after his stunning classical-format win over Carlsen in Round 6 of the Norway Chess 2025 tournament. On Thursday, Carlsen, playing with the white pieces, appeared to control the early phases of the game. However, a critical blunder came when he pushed his b-pawn to b4, a move that turned the tide completely in Gukesh’s favor.
Seizing the opportunity, Gukesh launched a decisive counterattack, steadily forcing Carlsen into a defensive posture. With less than 30 seconds remaining on his clock and facing a lost position, Carlsen quietly resigned after 49 moves, shaking Gukesh’s hand without making eye contact or showing emotion — a stark contrast to his previous outburst in Norway, where he had banged the table in frustration.
Former world champion Garry Kasparov, who was on commentary for the tournament’s official stream, didn’t hold back. “Now we can seriously question Magnus’ dominance. This is not just another loss; this was a convincing defeat by Gukesh,” he said, criticizing Carlsen’s decision to push the b-pawn.
Reflecting on the win, Gukesh acknowledged that his start wasn’t ideal. “I had a horrible opening. I mixed up a couple of moves. But beating Magnus is always special, and this gives a bit more confidence,” he said.
The 19-year-old Indian Grandmaster now leads ahead of Jan-Krzysztof Duda, who sits two points behind in second place. With the final rounds approaching, Gukesh remains the player to beat.
A visibly demoralized Carlsen later admitted he is struggling mentally. Speaking to chess podcast Take Take Take, he said, “Honestly, I am not enjoying playing chess at all right now. I don’t feel any flow. I’m hesitating constantly, and it’s showing in my play.”
The defeat marks his second consecutive loss to Gukesh, a player Carlsen has previously dismissed as “weak,” particularly in faster formats. However, Gukesh’s dominance in both classical and rapid formats is forcing a reevaluation of that perception.
“I had a very nice position, and I completely messed it up. He played well, took his chances, and found strong moves. I missed the chance to bail out with a draw, kept playing, and ended up hopelessly lost,” Carlsen said.
He also admitted his overall performance in the tournament has been sub-par, managing only one win so far. “I have played poorly this entire tournament, and this time I was soundly punished,” he added.
Gukesh’s back-to-back wins against Carlsen — long considered the most dominant force in modern chess — have led many to believe that a changing of the guard may be underway in world chess.
“He’s doing incredibly well. Winning five games in a row is no mean feat,” Carlsen himself admitted, giving grudging credit to his young rival.
As the tournament moves into its final stages, all eyes remain on the teenage sensation from India, who not only leads the field but may be reshaping the narrative of modern chess.
