Gukesh stuns again: Carlsen resigns without drama, no table slam this time

Reigning world champion D. Gukesh pulled off yet another stunning victory against world number one Magnus Carlsen at the 2025 Grand Chess Tour: SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz in Zagreb, Croatia.

With this win, Gukesh extended his hot streak to five games and surged to the top of the leaderboard with 10 points at the end of Day 2.

Carlsen, with just 6 points, now faces a steep climb as the rapid section nears its close. Jan-Krzysztof Duda trails Gukesh by two points as his nearest challenger.

Carlsen, playing with the white pieces, looked to have the upper hand early in the match. But a critical error—pushing his b-pawn to b4—shifted momentum entirely. Gukesh pounced with cool precision and slowly squeezed Carlsen out of the game. As the Norwegian’s clock dipped below 30 seconds and his position crumbled, he resigned after 49 moves.

There was no fist slam or visible frustration this time—just a quiet handshake, averted eyes, and a quick retreat. The contrast to his emotionally charged loss to Gukesh in Stavanger just weeks ago couldn’t have been starker.

Legendary grandmaster Garry Kasparov, on commentary for the official stream, didn’t hold back in his assessment. “Now we can question Magnus' domination because this isn’t just another loss to Gukesh—it’s a convincing one,” he said. Kasparov was especially critical of Carlsen’s decision to play b4, which triggered the collapse.

Despite a shaky start, Gukesh remained calm and composed throughout. “Beating Magnus is always special. It gives a lot of confidence. I had a horrible opening, but I managed to turn it around,” he said after the game.

Earlier in the week, Carlsen had described Gukesh as one of the “presumably weaker players” in the field—an eyebrow-raising remark considering their recent history. That added even more tension to their Zagreb rematch.

Carlsen opened with the English and gained early control after 18...Nh5 19.Bf2. But Gukesh turned the tables with an aggressive 26...d5. As Carlsen’s position deteriorated and time pressure mounted, the 18-year-old Indian grandmaster took full advantage. Carlsen resigned without drama, rearranged the pieces silently, and exited the stage.

The cameras stayed fixed on the board, possibly bracing for another emotional eruption from Carlsen. But there was no spectacle this time. The Norwegian was subdued, even graceful in defeat. Meanwhile, Gukesh, composed and smiling, was soon surrounded by young fans asking for autographs on chessboards and memorabilia.

Carlsen remains the undisputed number one across formats, while Gukesh is ranked just 42nd in rapid chess. Yet in Zagreb, Gukesh has outshone all—including heavyweights like Alireza Firouzja, Fabiano Caruana, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Ivan Saric.

Some observers believe this victory may be even more significant than Gukesh’s classical win over Carlsen at Norway Chess. This time, it was rapid format—supposedly Gukesh’s weaker area—and Carlsen had the white pieces, a clear advantage. Yet Gukesh prevailed again, proving his adaptability and rising stature.

With just three rapid games left, Gukesh heads into the final day as the sole leader. Calm, clinical, and increasingly fearless against the greats, the young Indian champion no longer looks like an underdog—but a new force redefining elite chess.