World champ Gukesh wins Zagreb Open

Blitz Bureau

NEW DELHI: Reigning World Champion D. Gukesh underlined his growing stature on the global stage, clinching the rapid title at the Zagreb Open SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz tournament – part of the 2025 Grand Chess Tour – in Zagreb, Croatia. The 19-year-old showcased composure, tactical precision and blistering form to finish with 14 points from a possible 18, sealing top honours in commanding fashion.

His campaign began with an early stumble – a first-round defeat to Jan-Krzysztof Duda. But that only sparked a remarkable turnaround. Gukesh responded with five consecutive victories, including a clinical dismantling of World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in Round 4, a result that firmly placed him in control of the leaderboard.

He capped off the rapid section with a signature win over Wesley So of the United States in the final round – a composed 36-move performance that exploited a tactical oversight to convert a material edge into two full points.

It was a fitting end to a run that included six wins, two draws, and a solitary loss. ORIES YOU MAY LIKE
Day 3 began with a quiet draw against Dutch GM Anish Giri, as the players reached a near-locked middlegame and shook hands. The second game of the day – against Croatia’s Ivan Aric—was a lengthy contest where Gukesh employed the Marshall Gambit. The 87-move encounter eventually ended in a draw, but showed Gukesh’s readiness to fight for every inch.

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