Indian chess prodigy D Gukesh stuns Magnus Carlsen for the second time in a month at SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz 2025
Gukesh’s Tactical Brilliance Shocks Carlsen Again
Gukesh Topples Carlsen Again – In a gripping Round 6 clash at the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz 2025 in Zagreb, 18-year-old Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh once again outmaneuvered world number one Magnus Carlsen, marking his second consecutive win over the Norwegian legend. The match, played in the rapid format, saw Gukesh wielding the black pieces and turning the tide after a rocky start.
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Carlsen, who had earlier dismissed Gukesh as “one of the presumably weaker players,” opened confidently and appeared to dominate the early game. However, a critical error on move 23, pushing the b-pawn to b4 opened the door for Gukesh to seize the initiative. From that moment, the Indian prodigy displayed remarkable composure and precision, gradually dismantling Carlsen’s position.
As the clock ticked down and Carlsen’s options dwindled, he resigned silently, without eye contact or visible frustration, a stark contrast to his emotional outburst during their previous encounter at Norway Chess. The resignation came after 49 moves, with Gukesh’s queen, rook, and bishop cornering Carlsen’s king.
A Five-Game Streak and a Statement of Intent
This victory wasn’t an isolated triumph—it was Gukesh’s fifth consecutive win in the tournament, propelling him to the top of the leaderboard with 10 points, ahead of Jan-Krzysztof Duda (8 points) and Carlsen (6 points). The win also extended Gukesh’s dominance over elite opponents, including Fabiano Caruana and Nodirbek Abdusattorov.
Gukesh’s post-match reflections were humble yet telling:
“Beating Magnus is always special. I had a horrible opening, but I kept fighting. It gives me confidence that I could win from two losing positions in a row.”
Chess legend Garry Kasparov, commentating live, didn’t mince words:
“This wasn’t just a loss, it was a convincing one. Now we can question Magnus’ domination.”
The match has sparked conversations about a generational shift in chess. Gukesh, trained under the mentorship of Viswanathan Anand at the Westbridge Anand Chess Academy, has shown that he can thrive under pressure, adapt across formats, and challenge the very best.
A New Chapter in Global Chess Leadership
Carlsen’s subdued demeanour post-match spoke volumes. Once considered invincible, the Norwegian champion admitted:
“I got soundly punished. All credit to Gukesh, he’s playing well and taking his chances.”
This defeat follows Carlsen’s earlier loss to Gukesh at Norway Chess, where he famously slammed the table in frustration. The contrast in reactions, rage in Stavanger, resignation in Zagreb, reflects a deeper shift in the psychological dynamics between the two.
The SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz 2025, part of the Grand Chess Tour, features seven of the world’s top ten players. Yet it is Gukesh who has emerged as the tournament’s defining force. His ability to recover from poor openings, maintain composure under time pressure, and capitalize on opponent errors has made him the talk of the chess world.
Indian fans have flooded social media with praise, while Anand tweeted:
“Gukesh is showing the world what Indian chess is capable of.”
As the tournament heads into its final rounds, all eyes are on Gukesh. Can he maintain his momentum and claim the title? More importantly, has the torch truly passed from Carlsen to a new generation?
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