In a dramatic clash that silenced pre-tournament skepticism, reigning World Champion D. Gukesh defeated world number-one Magnus Carlsen in round six of the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia, seizing the tournament lead with his fifth consecutive victory. The 18-year-old Indian grandmaster’s triumph with the black pieces marks his second win over Carlsen in just over a month, delivering a powerful response to the Norwegian’s earlier dismissal of his rapid-chess prowess 3812.
The Buildup: A Psychological Gambit
Carlsen, a three-time winner of this event, had set the stage for tension earlier in the week. When assessing the Zagreb field—packed with seven of the world’s top ten players—he singled out Gukesh as a relative weakness:
“Gukesh hasn’t done anything to indicate he’ll do well here. Playing him, I’ll approach it as if I’m playing one of the presumably weaker players” 11112.
These words echoed their Norway Chess 2025 encounter, where Gukesh’s first classical win over Carlsen triggered the Norwegian’s now-infamous table slam 12.
The Decisive Battle: Precision Under Fire
Thursday’s rapid clash saw Carlsen open aggressively with the English Opening, gaining early control. By move 20, analysts noted Carlsen held a significant edge. But Gukesh, demonstrating trademark resilience, pivoted sharply with 26…d5!, destabilizing Carlsen’s structure and seizing the initiative 81112.
As Carlsen’s clock dwindled below one minute, errors crept in. His position crumbled under Gukesh’s relentless counterplay, forcing resignation on move 49. Post-game, a subdued Carlsen conceded:
“It was poor from me, but all credit to Gukesh. He’s playing well and taking his chances… I’ve played poorly this whole tournament. I don’t feel any flow at all” 11.
Reactions: A Shifting Landscape
The chess world erupted in acclaim. Garry Kasparov declared the win a potential turning point:
“Now we can question Magnus’ domination. It’s not just the second loss—it’s a very convincing loss!” 512.
Gukesh, typically understated, acknowledged the momentum shift:
“It’s nice that I could win two games in a row from losing positions—and against Magnus” 12.
Tournament Standings and Horizon
With this win, Gukesh surged to 10 points—a two-point lead over Wesley So, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, and Fabiano Caruana. Carlsen sits fourth with 6 points 4510.
The victory caps a stunning run for Gukesh, who recovered from a first-round loss to Duda by defeating Alireza Firouzja, Praggnanandhaa, Abdusattorov, Caruana, and finally Carlsen 3412.
What Lies Ahead
Two more blitz games between Gukesh and Carlsen loom this weekend—a format Carlsen has historically dominated. But as Kasparov noted, Gukesh’s “computer-like” resilience has upended expectations 511. With the rapid section concluding Friday and blitz to follow, Gukesh carries not just the lead, but the momentum of a champion proving his worth against the fiercest opposition.
For real-time standings and game analysis, follow the Grand Chess Tour’s official coverage
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