Chess prodigy D. Gukesh endured a challenging first day in the Blitz section of the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Chess Tournament, dropping to third place after losing seven out of nine games.
A Sudden Slide in Blitz
After a strong performance in the Rapid event, where he held a commanding three-point lead, Gukesh found himself struggling significantly in the rapid-fire Blitz format. This sharp contrast raised questions about his proficiency in faster game variants, a format often described as ruthless due to its tight time controls.
The young Classical World Champion managed to secure only 1.5 points from nine rounds on Saturday. His difficult day saw him lose seven games, causing him to fall to third position in the overall standings with 15.5 points.
Blunders and Lost Focus
A key issue for Gukesh was a noticeable lapse in his trademark intense focus. Early in the day, he was in control against Wesley So and Nodirbek Abdusattorov, but one-move blunders in the endgame cost him dearly, setting a challenging tone for the rest of his matches.
The losing streak continued as he fell to top players like Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Magnus Carlsen, and Ivan Saric. He did manage a draw against Anish Giri and secured a much-needed win over Fabiano Caruana, offering a glimmer of hope.
Chess Legends Weigh In
Legendary chess player Garry Kasparov observed that Gukesh might not yet be fully prepared for the demanding nature of Blitz. Kasparov noted that Gukesh’s losses were “terrible” and lacked his usual tenacity, suggesting that any wasted energy negatively impacts performance in this format.
Magnus Carlsen, who defeated Gukesh in their Blitz encounter, described their game as “rubbish,” humorously crediting his victory to “old man’s chess” focused on avoiding tactics. Carlsen also commented on the general perception of Indian players, including Gukesh, as exceptional calculators but sometimes weaker in intuitive play under extreme time pressure.
Looking Ahead to a Comeback
Despite the setback, Gukesh still has another day of Blitz rounds to stage a recovery. Carlsen, acknowledging Gukesh’s “shocking” score, suggested that hitting rock bottom might relieve pressure, allowing the Indian to play with a different attitude in the upcoming rounds.
The other Indian participant, R. Praggnanandhaa, had a mixed day, scoring 4.5 points and slipping to fourth place. Interestingly, Praggnanandhaa concluded his day with a victory over Gukesh in the final round.
- Gukesh scored only 1.5/9 points in the first day of Blitz.
- He lost seven games, dropping to third place in the overall standings.
- Experts like Garry Kasparov suggest Gukesh is still developing his Blitz skills.
- Gukesh has another full day of Blitz rounds to attempt a comeback.
The tournament continues with more intense Blitz action, and all eyes will be on Gukesh to see if he can bounce back from this difficult start.
