Grand Chess Tour Zagreb 2025: D. Gukesh Secures Rapid Chess Tournament Win
In an exhilarating display of chess mastery, India's rising star, D. Gukesh, claimed victory in the Rapid Section of the Grand Chess Tour 2025 in Zagreb, Croatia. The tournament, which features a total prize fund of $175,000, is a significant event on the global chess calendar, attracting some of the world's top players.
The final leg in Brazil will offer a comprehensive test of each participant's versatility, as the tour continues with stops in the United States and concludes in Brazil between September and October, featuring classical, rapid, and blitz games.
Gukesh's triumphant run began on a challenging note, as he lost his opening game to Jan-Krzysztof Duda. However, the Indian prodigy quickly regained his composure, winning five consecutive games against elite opponents such as Alireza Firouzja, Fabiano Caruana, Magnus Carlsen, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Wesley So.
The most significant highlight of the tournament was Gukesh's victory over World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in Round 6. This win not only secured Gukesh a two-point lead but also marked a convincing upset that raised questions about Carlsen's domination. Garry Kasparov, the legendary former World Chess Champion, remarked that Gukesh's win over Carlsen questioned the Norwegian's reign.
Gukesh's consistent performance throughout the rapid section, showcasing his speed and strategic skills, was crucial, as the tournament also includes a blitz section where points will be combined. On Day 3, Gukesh regained momentum with a commanding victory over Wesley So, extending his lead to three points in the blitz phase.
In the final round, Gukesh delivered a textbook performance against Wesley So, converting a middlegame advantage into a decisive win in just 36 moves. This performance cements Gukesh's place as the winner of the rapid section of the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz (Grand Chess Tour 2025) in Zagreb.
Jan-Krzysztof Duda finished second with a score of 11.0, being the only player to defeat D. Gukesh in the rapid section. The blitz section of the Grand Chess Tour 2025 in Zagreb is scheduled for July 5 and 6, where the overall champion of the Zagreb leg will be crowned based on combined results from both the rapid and blitz formats.
Following Zagreb, the tour will shift to the United States in August for the next two events. Meanwhile, India's R Praggnanandhaa, who secured a title win in Bucharest and finished third in Warsaw, will be eager to make his mark in the upcoming stages of the Grand Chess Tour 2025.
The Grand Chess Tour 2025 tournaments in the United States and Brazil will offer an opportunity for participants to showcase their versatility in various game formats, including sports like classical, rapid, and blitz games. Gukesh's impressive victory over sports legends such as Magnus Carlsen during the Rapid Section of the Grand Chess Tour in Zagreb has set a high standard for forthcoming events.
