Indian chess sensation D Gukesh continues to captivate the chess world with his stunning performances. The 18-year-old prodigy delivered a commanding win over World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in the sixth round of the Grand Chess Tour in Zagreb, taking the sole lead with 10 points and further solidifying his status among the global elite.
Gukesh’s triumph—his second over Carlsen in just a few weeks—came in the rapid format, a time control long considered one of Carlsen’s strongholds. The victory is particularly sweet for Gukesh, who was previously dismissed by Carlsen as lacking the credentials in rapid and blitz formats.
“Gukesh hasn’t done anything to indicate that he’s going to do well in rapid and blitz,” Carlsen had remarked prior to the tournament.
“It remains to be proven that he’s one of the best players in such a format… I hope for Gukesh’s sake that he can play better.”
Gukesh responded not with words but with his moves—rebounding from a first-round loss to Jan-Krzysztof Duda by racking up wins against top-tier players including Alireza Firouzja and now Carlsen.
Former World Champion Garry Kasparov, who was on commentary duty, was effusive in his praise for the young Indian and pointedly critical of Carlsen’s approach.
“Now we can question Magnus’ domination,” said Kasparov. “This is not just his second loss to Gukesh; it’s a convincing loss. It wasn’t a fluke. Gukesh played a solid game, and Magnus lost in a real fight.”
Kasparov went on to highlight Gukesh’s machine-like focus and mental toughness, comparing his resilience to that of a computer.
“His resilience reminds me of computers. If you lose concentration, you're done. Gukesh is the kind of player you have to beat more than once,” Kasparov explained. “Carlsen came in looking for revenge after Norway Chess, and that’s never a good mindset in elite chess.”
Gukesh had already created history by defeating Carlsen in a classical game during Norway Chess earlier this year. But this rapid win, against a backdrop of public skepticism, may mark an even more significant milestone in his career.
With 21 blitz rounds still to go in the tournament, Gukesh has not only emerged as a serious contender for the title but has also silenced critics who doubted his capabilities in faster time formats.
Gukesh's rapid rise has prompted conversations about a changing of the guard in world chess. With poise beyond his years and the backing of legends like Kasparov, the Indian teenager is no longer just a rising star—he’s a formidable force reshaping the chess hierarchy.
