Zagreb, Croatia : In a moment that sent shockwaves through the global chess community, 19-year-old World Champion D Gukesh pulled off a sensational victory over World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in the sixth round of the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia 2025, part of the prestigious Grand Chess Tour. The dramatic win, Gukesh’s fifth in a row, vaulted the Indian prodigy into sole lead with 10 points, firmly silencing critics and turning the spotlight firmly onto India’s newest chess icon.
The high-stakes game was held at The Westin Zagreb Hotel, with the two heavyweights set to meet twice more in the upcoming blitz segment on July 5 and 6. Playing with the black pieces, Gukesh demonstrated not only calm under pressure but also tactical mastery, turning the tide in his favor after a minor Carlsen miscalculation. The win also reignited the simmering rivalry between the two, following Gukesh’s previous win over Carlsen at Norway Chess 2025, a match that famously ended with Carlsen slamming the table in frustration.
A Day of Comebacks and Domination
Heading into Day 2, Gukesh was level with Carlsen, Wesley So, and Jan-Krzysztof Duda on 4/6. Despite suffering an early setback to Duda, Gukesh surged back with victories against Alireza Firouzja and R Praggnanandhaa, followed by decisive wins over Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Fabiano Caruana. The crowning moment, however, came in Round 6 with his composed dismantling of Carlsen.
The win was especially satisfying for Gukesh, given Carlsen’s pre-tournament comments. “Gukesh hasn’t done anything to indicate he’s going to do well in such a tournament,” Carlsen had stated. His opponent responded not with words, but with precision on the board.
The Game That Rocked Zagreb
While the full analysis of the sixth-round game is still underway, early indications suggest Carlsen overextended during a critical phase. Gukesh capitalized with his now-signature endgame accuracy. Legendary grandmaster Garry Kasparov, who attended the event, noted:
“It’s not just another loss for Magnus. It’s a very convincing one. A very important day for world chess.”
This marked Gukesh’s second consecutive win over Carlsen, a feat no teenager has achieved in recent memory. Fans quickly noted Gukesh’s calm and composed demeanor throughout the encounter, a stark contrast to Carlsen’s earlier bravado.
Tournament Context
The SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia 2025 is the third leg of the Grand Chess Tour and includes four of the world’s top five players: Carlsen (No. 1), Caruana (No. 3), Praggnanandhaa (No. 4), and Gukesh (No. 6). The tournament format includes nine rounds of rapid chess (25 minutes + 10-second increment), followed by 18 rounds of blitz (5 minutes + 2-second increment). The total prize pool is $175,000, with $40,000 going to the winner.
Notably, Gukesh entered the event ranked 42nd in rapid and 93rd in blitz, making his rise all the more remarkable. Carlsen had initially tipped Firouzja and Caruana as the frontrunners, but it is Gukesh who now leads heading into the blitz rounds.
Global Reactions
In India, Gukesh’s victory was celebrated as a breakthrough moment for the country’s emerging “Golden Generation” of chess stars, which includes Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi. Social media buzzed with pride and support, with one user posting, “Bhartiya Chess is unstoppable!”
Kasparov’s earlier joke about reinforcing tables in Zagreb—referencing Carlsen’s outburst in Norway—took on new relevance after the game, adding humor to the high-voltage rivalry.
Carlsen’s Road Ahead
For Carlsen, the loss adds an unexpected wrinkle to what has otherwise been a dominant blitz and rapid career. He’s won nine out of 11 such Grand Chess Tour events he has participated in. His return to Zagreb was also emotionally charged, coming a year after he withdrew from the 2024 edition to be with his terminally ill mother.
Despite the setback, Carlsen is still in the hunt, with two blitz games against Gukesh still on the cards. The tournament is far from over.
Looking Forward
With three rapid games on July 4 and 18 blitz rounds on July 5-6, the competition is set to intensify. Gukesh must now prove he can match Carlsen in blitz—a format where the Norwegian is virtually unmatched.
Whatever the final outcome, Gukesh’s run has redefined expectations and injected fresh energy into the global chess narrative. As Kasparov wisely remarked:
“The moment you stop improving, it’s over.”
Clearly, Gukesh is just getting started.
