Just days after Magnus Carlsen dismissed D. Gukesh as "one of the presumably weaker players" in the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia, the Indian teenager delivered a powerful rebuttal—on the board.
On Thursday, Gukesh, just 18, defeated the world No. 1 with the Black pieces in round six of the prestigious Grand Chess Tour event in Zagreb. It marked his second consecutive win over Carlsen, the previous being in classical format at Norway Chess last month. This latest win helped Gukesh surge to the top of the standings, with 10 points from six games, making him the sole leader at the end of day two of the rapid section.
Unlike the visibly frustrated Carlsen in their earlier clash, this time there was no dramatic reaction—but the result was equally emphatic. Gukesh displayed poise and precision, turning around what initially appeared to be a difficult position. Carlsen opened with the English and seemed to have an edge, but Gukesh’s sharp 26...d5 turned the tide. Carlsen began to falter under pressure and time trouble, ultimately resigning after 49 moves.
Earlier this week, Carlsen’s dismissive remark about Gukesh had drawn attention, especially considering their recent encounters. But Gukesh’s performance was a statement of intent, signaling he’s not just a rising star—he’s now a formidable peer among the world elite.
Chess legend Garry Kasparov, on commentary, didn’t hold back:
“Now we can question Magnus’ domination. This isn’t just another loss. It’s a convincing one. Gukesh didn’t just capitalise on mistakes—he played better.”
Gukesh’s win over Carlsen capped a stellar day: after an initial loss to Jan-Krzysztof Duda, he bounced back by beating Alireza Firouzja and R Praggnanandhaa, before toppling the Norwegian.
Reflecting on the day, Gukesh said:
“I wasn’t too disheartened after the first-round loss. Duda got a good position and played well.”
Carlsen’s day was more inconsistent—he managed a long win against Wesley So, but drew against Ivan Šarić and Duda. He now trails Gukesh by four points going into the blitz section.
In the Grand Chess Tour, rapid wins fetch 2 points, while blitz wins (to follow) earn 1 point. Gukesh ends the second day of rapid with 10 out of 12 possible points, brimming with momentum.
With this commanding performance, Gukesh has firmly shaken off the “outsider” tag—and, as the world watches, he's beginning to reshape the narrative of modern chess.
