Gukesh Dominates Zagreb Rapid Chess, Defeats Carlsen and Caruana to Lead by Three Points

Indian teenage chess prodigy and current world champion D Gukesh has stunned the global chess community by emerging as the leader after three days of rapid chess at the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia 2025 in Zagreb. Displaying remarkable resilience and precision, Gukesh now sits comfortably at the top with 14 points, leading by three over his closest rivals.

A Statement Performance

Entering the tournament with doubts over his rapid and blitz capabilities, Gukesh lost his opening match — only to bounce back with wins over some of the game’s biggest names, including Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Alireza Firouzja, Praggnanandhaa, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Wesley So.

Gukesh wrapped up the rapid leg with a commanding win over Wesley So on Friday, drawing the earlier rounds with Anish Giri and Ivan Saric. His performance so far has left no room for doubt about his prowess in faster formats, once considered his weakness.

Kasparov’s High Praise

Chess legend Garry Kasparov, who witnessed Gukesh’s victory over Carlsen, commented:

“This isn’t just a lucky break — Gukesh is playing like a computer. His resilience is unmatched. You have to beat him multiple times in a single game.”

Kasparov’s admiration underlined the shift in power dynamics, especially after Gukesh’s second win over Carlsen in a matter of weeks, following his earlier classical triumph at Norway Chess 2025.

Carlsen Left Rattled

Carlsen, speaking before the tournament, had openly questioned Gukesh’s ability in rapid formats, even calling him “one of the weaker players in the field.” But Gukesh has more than silenced critics. His win against Carlsen wasn’t about capitalizing on errors — it was a hard-fought victory showcasing deep calculation and endgame mastery.

“Poor from me… got soundly punished. But all credit to Gukesh,” Carlsen admitted after his loss.

Blitz Battles Ahead

With 18 blitz games scheduled over the weekend, Gukesh will need to maintain his momentum to claim the overall title. His closest competitors, Jan-Krzysztof Duda (11 points) and Carlsen (10 points), are still in striking distance, while Praggnanandhaa trails just behind with 9 points.

Gukesh’s Growth Under Pressure

Speaking recently about his competitive mindset, Gukesh said:

“When my back is against the wall, I give my 100%—not just in chess, but in anything I do.”

His ability to fight back from worse positions and keep his composure under time pressure has drawn parallels with legendary grinders of the game — and even with chess computers, known for their relentlessness.

Global Recognition

Top players like Fabiano Caruana also acknowledged Gukesh’s dominance:

“He’s been impressive. His wins aren’t from prep, just practical play and solid calculation. He was underestimated in rapid chess.”

From being doubted to dominating, Gukesh’s performance in Zagreb has turned heads and rewritten narratives. The chess world is watching — and Gukesh is proving he belongs at the top, no matter the time control.