World champion D. Gukesh showcased his skills with another remarkable victory over world number one Magnus Carlsen, taking the sole lead after six rounds of the Super United Rapid and Blitz Chess Tournament in Zagreb.
Including his wins from the opening day, Gukesh's triumph against Carlsen on Thursday (July 3, 2025) marked his fifth consecutive win in the tournament, bringing his total to 10 points out of a possible 12.
With only three rounds remaining in the rapid section, Gukesh holds a two-point advantage over his closest competitor, Poland's Duda Jan-Krzysztof. Meanwhile, Wesley So from the United States occupies third place with seven points, one point ahead of Carlsen, Anish Giri from the Netherlands, and local favorite Ivan Saric.
R. Praggnanandhaa is tied for seventh place with five points alongside American player Fabiano Caruana, while France's Alireza Firouzja holds the ninth position with four points. Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Abdusattorov is in tenth place with only three points.
Magnus Carlsen has been outspoken in his criticism of Gukesh in faster formats of the game. Following his earlier defeat to Gukesh at the Norway Chess tournament, the world number one famously slammed the table in frustration. This match marked Gukesh's first victory over Carlsen in classical chess.
Gukesh's victory as Black was a sweet triumph. Although Carlsen gained an initial optical advantage with his king pawn opening, the day ultimately belonged to Gukesh, who skillfully found the ideal counterplay. At one point, Carlsen had to exchange two minor pieces for a rook and a few seemingly threatening pawns. However, Gukesh calmly capitalized on Carlsen's flawed strategy as time ran out, securing his famous win after 49 moves. Earlier, Gukesh had also achieved impressive victories against Abdusattorov and Caruana. Meanwhile, Praggnanandhaa's quest for a much-needed win continued, as he settled for draws against Caruana, Carlsen, and Giri. To make a comeback in the tournament, Praggnanandhaa will need to secure some victories on the final day.
Standings after Round 6:
1. D. Gukesh (India, 10 points)
2. Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Poland, 8 points)
3. Wesley So (USA, 7 points)
4-6. Ivan Saric (Croatia, 6 points)
Magnus Carlsen (Norway, 6 points)
Anish Giri (Netherlands, 6 points)
7-8. Fabiano Caruana (USA, 2 points)
R. Praggnanandhaa (India, 2 points)
9. Alireza Firouzja (France, 4 points)
10. Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan, 3 points)
