Chess World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen recently suffered his second rapid format defeat to reigning World Champion Gukesh, admitting his play was “poor” but giving full credit to his opponent.
Another Clash, Another Defeat for Carlsen
For the second time in recent history, Magnus Carlsen has fallen to D. Gukesh. The latest loss occurred in a rapid game at the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia 2025 tournament in Zagreb, following a headline-making classical defeat at Norway Chess.
Carlsen, playing with the white pieces, was forced to resign after 49 moves. The game started positively for the Norwegian, who held a significant advantage after 20 moves. However, the game quickly unraveled from that point.
Carlsen’s Honest Assessment
After the game, a visibly disappointed Carlsen spoke about his performance. “It was poor (from me) but all credit to Gukesh,” he stated, acknowledging Gukesh’s strong play throughout the tournament.
He added, “He’s playing well and taking his chances. I’ve played kind of poorly the whole tournament. This time I got soundly punished.” Carlsen also noted that Gukesh “found a lot of really good moves” after he struggled with time and handling the open position.
A Contrast to Pre-Tournament Remarks
The defeat comes with a layer of irony, as Carlsen had openly questioned Gukesh’s rapid and blitz credentials before the tournament. He went as far as categorizing games against Gukesh as matchups against “presumably weaker players in the tournament.”
Carlsen had previously stated that Gukesh “hasn’t done anything to indicate that he’s going to do well” in rapid and blitz formats, suggesting he had “a lot to prove.” Gukesh, however, has proven him wrong by winning five games in a row at the event.
A Champion’s Personal Struggle
Beyond the game itself, Carlsen revealed a deeper personal struggle with his current form. “Honestly, I’m not enjoying playing chess at all right now,” he confessed.
He described a lack of “flow” in his play, saying, “When I am playing, I’m constantly hesitating. It’s just really poor right now.” This candid admission highlights the mental and emotional toll of competitive chess, even for a player of Carlsen’s caliber.
- Magnus Carlsen lost to Gukesh for the second time, this time in a rapid game.
- Carlsen admitted his play was “poor” and gave “all credit” to Gukesh.
- Carlsen had previously downplayed Gukesh’s rapid and blitz abilities.
- The World No. 1 expressed not enjoying chess and feeling a lack of “flow” in his current games.
Gukesh continues his impressive run, while the chess world watches to see if Carlsen can regain his dominant form and reignite his passion for the game.
