Gukesh Clinches Rapid Title at Grand Chess Tour Zagreb, Stuns Carlsen En Route
Reigning World Chess Champion D. Gukesh added another feather to his cap on Friday, winning the rapid section of the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz tournament — a key leg of the 2025 Grand Chess Tour — in Zagreb, Croatia. The 19-year-old Indian prodigy scored 14 out of a possible 18 points, displaying remarkable resilience and skill to claim the title in commanding fashion.
After an opening-round loss to Poland’s Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Gukesh launched an extraordinary comeback, winning five straight games, including a pivotal Round 4 victory over World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen. The result was not only a statement of intent but also a turning point in the tournament, as Gukesh surged to the top of the leaderboard and never looked back.
His final score came from six wins, two draws, and just one loss — a near-flawless performance that reaffirmed his dominance in the rapid format. Gukesh sealed the title with a composed 36-move win over Wesley So in the final round, capitalizing on a tactical oversight by the American to convert a material edge into a decisive result.
Day 3 of the rapid event saw Gukesh opting for strategic caution early on. He opened with a draw against Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri in a quiet middlegame that ended in a handshake. His second game of the day, against Croatian GM Ivan Aric, was a marathon 87-move affair featuring the Marshall Gambit. Though it ended in a draw, the game highlighted Gukesh’s deep preparation and fighting spirit.
Carlsen, meanwhile, began the final day on a strong note by defeating Fabiano Caruana but failed to build momentum, drawing his next game against Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov. The Norwegian legend ultimately fell short of catching up, with Duda—who handed Gukesh his only defeat—emerging as the closest challenger, finishing second overall.
Another Indian star, R. Praggnanandhaa, had a quieter outing. The 18-year-old, who had earlier won the Bucharest leg and finished third in Warsaw, ended the rapid section in Zagreb with nine points. Despite recording just one win (against Aric), his seven draws showed consistency and kept him in the hunt in the overall Grand Chess Tour standings.
Gukesh’s victory in Zagreb not only reinforces his growing stature in global chess but also sets the stage for an exciting blitz segment, which begins Saturday and runs through July 6. Combined points from both rapid and blitz formats will decide the overall winner of the Zagreb leg.
The Grand Chess Tour 2025 will now move to the United States in August and conclude in Brazil between September and October. Gukesh’s masterclass in Zagreb, especially his dismantling of Carlsen, may well prove a defining moment in what is shaping up to be a milestone year for Indian chess.
From battling early adversity to outplaying some of the game’s biggest names, Gukesh’s rapid triumph is a testament to his maturity, tactical depth, and unflinching composure — hallmarks of a true champion.
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