Another Defeat for Carlsen
For the second time in recent weeks, Magnus Carlsen has been forced to resign against India’s teen sensation, Gukesh. This latest defeat came in a rapid game at the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia 2025 in Zagreb, following a classical format loss at Norway Chess.
Carlsen’s reaction this time was notably subdued compared to the visible frustration he displayed after the Norway Chess match. A simple handshake and a disappointed grimace were all that marked his resignation after 49 moves.
Gukesh now stands as the sole leader of the rapid section with 10 points, a comfortable four points ahead of Carlsen, with just three games remaining in the rapid segment.
Kasparov Questions Carlsen’s Dominance
The significance of this rapid game victory might even outweigh the classical win, especially since Carlsen was playing with white pieces, and Gukesh is generally thought to be less strong in rapid formats.
Chess legend Garry Kasparov, commenting on the official stream, didn’t hold back. “Now we can question Magnus’ domination,” he stated. He emphasized that this wasn’t just Gukesh’s second win, but a “convincing loss” for Carlsen, calling it a “big fight” rather than a stroke of luck.
Gukesh Defies Expectations
Before the tournament, Carlsen had openly doubted Gukesh’s abilities in rapid and blitz formats. He had suggested that Gukesh hadn’t “done anything to indicate that he’s going to do well” in such a strong field.
Carlsen even went as far as saying he’d treat games against Gukesh as if they were against one of the “presumably weaker players in the tournament.” However, Gukesh has soundly disproved these assumptions.
After an initial loss, Gukesh has gone on an incredible run, defeating strong players like Alireza Firouzja, R Praggnanandhaa, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Fabiano Caruana before his impressive win over Carlsen.
The Critical Blunder
In Thursday’s game, Carlsen initially held a significant advantage. Both players were quick on their moves, with Carlsen employing the English Opening. However, a pivotal moment arrived on Carlsen’s 23rd move.
He opted to push his b pawn to b4. This move instantly shocked Kasparov, who gasped and repeatedly exclaimed, “You don’t play b4, you just don’t play b4!” from the commentary desk, recognizing it as a severe mistake.
Kasparov also had high praise for Gukesh’s playing style, even when Carlsen had the upper hand. He described playing Gukesh as “like playing a computer” due to his incredible resilience. “He has many lives in each game,” Kasparov added, noting that Carlsen has now lost concentration at crucial moments twice against the young Indian.
Carlsen’s Acknowledgment
Despite the defeat, Carlsen acknowledged Gukesh’s stellar performance. “Gukesh is doing incredible well. Winning five games in a row is no mean feat,” Carlsen stated in a post-match interview.
Carlsen admitted his own play was “poor” in the game and throughout the tournament, giving full credit to Gukesh for playing well and capitalizing on his opportunities. He noted that Gukesh “found a lot of really good moves” after Carlsen made a mistake.
- Gukesh defeated Magnus Carlsen for the second time, this time in a rapid game in Croatia.
- Garry Kasparov declared Carlsen’s chess dominance is now open to question.
- Gukesh leads the rapid section, defying Carlsen’s pre-tournament doubts about his rapid play.
- A specific blunder by Carlsen (23. b4) was highlighted by Kasparov as a key turning point.
As Gukesh continues his impressive run, the chess world watches closely to see if this marks a significant shift in the competitive landscape.