Sports

IIE DIGITAL DESK : The SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz event in Zagreb, 18-year-old Indian grandmaster D. Gukesh continued his spectacular run, securing a second consecutive win over world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen—this time with the black pieces in round six. With this victory, Gukesh extended his winning streak to five straight, taking full command of the rapid section with 10 points, while Carlsen lags behind on six.

This triumph could be even more significant than their classical duel in Norway. Leading up to the match, Carlsen had dismissed Gukesh as a “presumably weaker player.” Gukesh’s performance decisively refutes that notion, securing a convincing victory in rapid chess— a format he was not expected to dominate .After 49 intense moves, Carlsen conceded with a handshake and a subdued grimace, in stark contrast to his last classical loss, when he visibly slammed the table .

Watching from behind the commentary booth, former world champion Garry Kasparov remarked that this was not merely another upset: “Now we can question Magnus’ domination… it’s a convincing loss,” he asserted. Earlier commentary captured Kasparov’s sentiment:

“Now we can question Magnus' domination,” said 13th World Champion Garry Kasparov, as a fifth win in a row left Gukesh two points clear of second‑placed GM Jan‑Krzysztof Duda.

Carlsen himself admitted, “I’ve played poorly the entire tournament… he found a lot of really, really good moves” .

Gukesh’s journey in Zagreb has been nothing short of extraordinary. After a shaky start, he turned the tide by defeating Carlsen in Norway’s classical event, then refocused to string together five straight wins in Croatia. His form is a testament to his growing mettle and readiness to compete at the top echelons of chess .

The Indian prodigy’s ascendancy has quickly drawn historical parallels. At only 18, he has already claimed the title of the youngest undisputed world champion in history, breaking records once held by Kasparov, Fischer, and others .

Not content with sporadic victories, Gukesh has displayed consistency, composure, and maturity under intense pressure—qualities that suggest he may precisely be the rising force to challenge Carlsen’s long-standing dominance.

As the rapid section concludes, attention shifts to the upcoming blitz games. With his current lead and confidence, Gukesh will be eager to keep the momentum going, while Carlsen will undoubtedly aim to regroup and respond.

This chess duel in Zagreb isn’t just a remarkable upset—it’s being read as a potential turning point in the sport's hierarchy. If Gukesh continues this form, we might be witnessing the dawn of a post-Carlsen era.