Gukesh Stuns Carlsen Once more: Croatia Fast & Blitz Day 2

World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju has completed it once more, beating world number-one Magnus Carlsen from a shedding place to take the only lead within the 2025 SuperUnited Croatia Fast & Blitz. “Now we will query Magnus’ domination,” stated thirteenth World Champion Garry Kasparov, as a fifth win in a row left Gukesh two factors away from second-placed GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda. 

Day three begins Friday, July 4, at 9 a.m. ET / 15:00 CEST / 6:30 p.m. IST.

SuperUnited Fast & Blitz Croatia Standings After Day 2

The Construct-Up: Gukesh Retains On Successful, Carlsen Lives Dangerously

Day two in Zagreb was all in regards to the round-six conflict between Gukesh and Carlsen, their first assembly because the younger Indian’s win in Norway Chess—and the desk slam that ended the sport—had reverberated around the globe. First there have been two different rounds to play, nonetheless, and it was fascinating to look at the 2 gamers.

Gukesh began the best way he’d ended day one, scoring a 3rd win in a row after GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov‘s pawn seize 16.Qxc5?! allowed Gukesh to lure his opponent’s king within the middle of the board. “The primary sport was fairly good!” stated the world champion, who, one slight miss apart, performed nearly completely.

The second sport of the day wasn’t fairly so convincing for Gukesh, since he discovered himself in bother in opposition to GM Fabiano Caruana out of the opening. On transfer 15, Caruana might seize the pawn on h4, since recapturing would lose on the spot to the black queen coming to h4.

15…f5! was additionally very robust, however Caruana was finally doomed by spending eight minutes on his determination, which was to play the comparatively meek 15…h5. Black was nonetheless higher, however a couple of strikes later Caruana allowed 20.d4! and abruptly White eased to victory. 

Whereas Gukesh was profitable two spectacular video games, Carlsen, who began the day as co-leader, made two attracts, each of which raised questions on his play. Within the first he performed a wonderful Catalan pawn sacrifice in opposition to the participant he’d stated he considers his major challenger in Zagreb, GM Alireza Firouzja.

White had a major edge, however Carlsen described his personal play as “actually, actually poor in time strain” as he went astray and received hit by some good blows, together with the in-between transfer 31…Qxf3!, selecting up a pawn. 

The specter of Re1 checkmate means White has no time to rescue the g6-knight.

Carlsen held issues along with 32.Ne7+! to achieve a pawn-down endgame, which might often be his bread and butter, however this time he allowed Firouzja a number of possibilities to win.

Carlsen described it as “a little bit of a miracle escape.”  

Carlsen pulls off a really slim escape in opposition to Firouzja! https://t.co/0s2UTzA2tL pic.twitter.com/bsNrkxl0tT

— chess24 (@chess24com) July 3, 2025

Firouzja struggled to get better from that sport, getting crushed by GM Anish Giri within the subsequent spherical, whereas Carlsen’s subsequent conflict with GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu was unconvincing. 23…h4?! was a questionable pawn sacrifice ready the place the pc gave Black as significantly better after 23…f4!. 

The sacrifice nearly labored out, given how Praggnanandhaa adopted up, however Carlsen missed the form of concept he often spots—a plan of c6, Qd8-Qb6, hitting b3 and a few unfastened items on f2 and g1. In the long run he needed to fastidiously maintain a fortress a pawn down, making a attract 74 strikes after a 75-move draw within the earlier spherical.

So it was clear who the shape participant was going into probably the most anticipated conflict of the day, which was additionally arrange completely—Carlsen trailed the chief by two factors, however would catch Gukesh if he received with the white items.  

Gukesh Defeats Carlsen Once more—Kasparov Asks If It is The Finish Of An Period

Carlsen put extra strain on himself within the pre-tournament interview, the place he recommended he’d method Gukesh as “one of many presumably weaker gamers within the match.”

Carlsen: “Gukesh hasn’t completed something to point that he’s going to do nicely in such a match. I hope for his sake that he can play higher, however taking part in him on this match I’ll method it as I’m taking part in one of many presumably weaker gamers within the match.” pic.twitter.com/ED7GfCJLxR

— chess24 (@chess24com) July 2, 2025

4 speedy wins in a row had doubtless modified Carlsen’s thoughts already, nonetheless, and it was one other pre-tournament interview that might come to the fore. WGM Anastasiya Karlovich requested Gukesh what he’d discovered from his years competing within the chess world: “I’ve discovered that when my again is in opposition to the wall I do every part I can, not solely in chess however even when I am taking part in another sport. If I am down by a match level in tennis—I do not play it so nicely—however I nonetheless handle to present my 100%.”

I’ve discovered that when my again is in opposition to the wall I do every part I can, not solely in chess however even when I am taking part in another sport.

—Gukesh Dommaraju

Making ready to face Carlsen, Gukesh caught to his common ritual of closing his eyes and meditating some time earlier than the sport. Carlsen organized his items and opened 1.c4. 

Carlsen arrives as Gukesh is meditating and probably the most anticipated conflict of the day has begun! #GrandChessTour pic.twitter.com/t1Ru3JQgmg

— chess24 (@chess24com) July 3, 2025

The opening would go like a dream for Carlsen, with Gukesh lamenting his ninth transfer and near misplaced by transfer 19.

He would say afterward:

Beating Magnus is all the time particular, for certain, and I feel this additionally provides a bit extra confidence within the sense that I simply had a horrible place from the opening, I simply combined up one thing actually unhealthy, after which it’s good that two shedding positions in a row I might win in opposition to Magnus!

It is good that two shedding positions in a row I might win in opposition to Magnus!

—Gukesh Dommaraju

The observing Kasparov commented, “Contemplating what occurred final time, beating Gukesh for Magnus is the largest precedence, as essential as profitable the match!” Issues gave the impression to be going that method, till 23.b4?!, a transfer about which the thirteenth world champion stated, “you do not play b4, interval!”

Neither participant realized it did not work instantly, nonetheless, with Gukesh initially considering the transfer was “intelligent” earlier than recognizing 25…c6!, which was the primary second within the sport when he thought he had possibilities. The d5-break would quickly comply with.

It was abruptly a lot more durable to play with White, although nonetheless balanced so far as 34…Qe6!, at which level Kasparov was already seeing the writing on the wall for Carlsen and declaring that the revenge mindset won’t have been splendid for the sport.

Kasparov on Carlsen: “He got here right here to take revenge for Norway Chess, and that is not good!” #GrandChessTour pic.twitter.com/c4pKpYsw2c

— chess24 (@chess24com) July 3, 2025

“I feel I had one final probability in some unspecified time in the future to bail out to one thing that was very drawish, and I believed let’s proceed taking part in, after which a few strikes later I used to be fairly hopelessly misplaced,” stated Carlsen after the sport, and he might need been desirous about e.g. 35.c7 right here. As a substitute we received 35.Rc5?, which was nearly the final mistake, since Gukesh had anticipated the transfer and will instantly reply with the highly effective 35…e4!. 

The tip did not come abruptly, in order that this time Carlsen had time to return to phrases with the loss on the board earlier than resigning.

Gukesh takes down Carlsen once more, the Indian World Champion’s fifth win in a row in Zagreb! 🤯https://t.co/2ONUGJEHkn pic.twitter.com/Naytf0ecLz

— chess24 (@chess24com) July 3, 2025

That’s, after all, our Sport of the Day, which has been analyzed by GM Rafael Leitao under.

Gukesh had made it 5 wins in a row after his opening loss.

Regardless of giving up his crown, Carlsen stays the world number-one by ranking in all types of chess and Gukesh profitable the title did not instantly make him the person to beat. As the sport ended, nonetheless, Kasparov raised the query of whether or not this second loss in a row is the second at which Carlsen’s domination of the chess world is actually coming to an finish.

Kasparov as Gukesh beats Carlsen: “A vital day! Now we will query Magnus’ domination. It is not simply the second loss, it is a very convincing loss!” #GrandChessTour pic.twitter.com/N63zPXk1Qm

— chess24 (@chess24com) July 3, 2025

A high Indian coach, GM Srinath Narayanan, suggests we’re now seeing “generational shift,” including “Gukesh’s means to adapt to new issues and codecs is astounding. It’d take its time, however over the time frame there shall be few doubters remaining.”

Generational shifts take time to realize common acceptance throughout many fields. Even when Magnus rose, many legends have been gradual to acknowledge his power.

Gukesh’s means to adapt to new issues and codecs is astounding. It’d take it is time, however over the time frame there…

— Srinath Narayanan (@srinathchess) July 3, 2025

Carlsen himself, in the meantime, was making no excuses. He commented, “I’ve performed form of poorly the entire match and this time I received soundly punished,” whereas providing “all credit score to Gukesh.”

“All credit score to Gukesh; he is taking part in nicely and he is taking his possibilities too. – He is doing extremely nicely now. It is a lengthy method to go within the match, however profitable 5 video games in a row is not any imply feat.”@MagnusCarlsen after shedding to @DGukesh. pic.twitter.com/gUz3FTAJxd

— Take Take Take (@TakeTakeTakeApp) July 3, 2025

Carlsen added: “Truthfully I’m not having fun with taking part in chess in any respect proper now. I don’t really feel any circulation in any respect once I’m taking part in, I’m continually hesitating, and it’s simply actually poor proper now.”

He did end, nonetheless, when requested about different issues, by saying, “Life doesn’t need to be unhealthy, even when I play some poor chess video games!”

Life does not need to be unhealthy, even when I play some poor chess video games!

—Magnus Carlsen

Carlsen trails Gukesh by 4 factors, however with three speedy rounds and 18 rounds of blitz to go earlier than a winner is topped, there’s nonetheless every part to play for.

It is also not solely about Carlsen. Duda is 2 factors behind Gukesh, and GM Wesley So three, although that might simply have been the opposite method round, since within the ultimate spherical of the day So was one correct transfer away from beating Duda.

Can Gukesh proceed his implausible type, or will the sector strike again? No matter occurs, we nonetheless have one other two Carlsen-Gukesh video games to return, this time in blitz!    

Easy methods to watch?

The 2025 SuperUnited Croatia Fast & Blitz is the third occasion on the 2025 Grand Chess Tour and runs July 2-6 within the Westin Lodge in Zagreb, Croatia. The ten gamers first compete in a single speedy round-robin with a time management of 25 minutes plus a 10-second increment per transfer, adopted by a blitz double round-robin with a 5+2 time management.