Latest news with #SuperUnitedRapidandBlitzCroatia2025
Time of India
a day ago
- Sport
- Time of India
'Written off as a bottom feeder': Susan Polgar defends SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz leader D Gukesh
Magnus Carlsen reacts during his game against D Gukesh at the Super United Rapid and Blitz tournament in Zagreb, Croatia. (Image via X/@Grand ChessTour) World chess champion Gukesh secured a notable victory against world number one Magnus Carlsen in a rapid game at the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia 2025 in Zagreb on Thursday, earning praise from chess legends Susan Polgar and Garry Kasparov. This win follows Gukesh's previous victory over Carlsen at Norway Chess in a classical format match. After losing his opening game to Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Gukesh made a remarkable comeback by defeating five top players in succession, including Carlsen. He now leads the rapid section with Carlsen trailing by four points going into the final day. Susan Polgar expressed her support for Gukesh on X, addressing critics who questioned his world champion status. "I am so happy for Gukesh. Some have doubted his worthiness as a World Champion, and believed that he was just a lucky winner against an off form Ding Liren. I read a lot of criticism from doubters," Polgar wrote. Susan Polgar on X Polgar further wrote on Gukesh's impressive tournament performance. "In this tournament in Croatia, he started off with a loss against Duda. He was already written off as a bottom feeder by others. Then he won 5 straight, taking down Firouzja with white, Praggnanandhaa with black, Abdusattorov with black, Caruana with white, and Carlsen with black! No matter what will happen tomorrow, beating those 5 consecutively is a feat very few can ever do. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo I hope this will give him confidence to rise to another level!" Before the tournament, Carlsen had expressed skepticism about Gukesh's abilities in rapid and blitz formats. "Gukesh hasn't done anything to indicate that he's going to do well (in rapid and blitz). It remains to be proven that he's one of the best players in such a format. This is a very, very strong field that we have here. Players like Gukesh have a lot to prove. In the course of 27 rounds, things usually show. I hope for Gukesh's sake that he can play better," Carlsen had stated. Carlsen had also mentioned he would treat games against Gukesh as matches against one of the "presumably weaker players in the tournament. " Poll Do you think Gukesh will maintain his lead in the tournament? Yes, he has the momentum No, Carlsen will catch up However, after his defeat, Carlsen acknowledged the Indian's performance. "Gukesh is doing incredible well (at this tournament). It's a long way to go in the tournament but winning five games in a row is no mean feat," Carlsen admitted. Former world champion Garry Kasparov also praised Gukesh's abilities, comparing his playing style to that of a computer. The tournament continues with both rapid and blitz sections, where Gukesh and Carlsen will face each other in one rapid and two blitz games over the weekend. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Susan Polgar on Gukesh: ‘Some doubted his worthiness as World Champion… written off as a bottom feeder at Zagreb'
Chess legend Susan Polgar heaped praise on world champion Gukesh after the teenager from India took down world no 1 and five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen in a rapid game at the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia 2025 in Zagreb on Thursday. Gukesh had also defeated Carlsen in their previous encounter at Norway Chess, which was a classical clash, but this time around the win came in a faster-time control format that Gukesh is supposedly not good in. 'I am so happy for Gukesh. Some have doubted his worthiness as a World Champion, and believed that he was just a lucky winner against an off form Ding Liren. I read a lot of criticism from doubters,' Polgar wrote on X after the Indian teenager's victory over Carlsen. Gukesh lost his opening game to Jan-Krzysztof Duda (who was his second in the world chess championship battle against Ding Liren last year). But after that loss, he rebounded spectacularly, taking down five of the best players in the 10-player field at Zagreb, including Carlsen. You can read our analysis of how Gukesh defeated Magnus Carlsen here. Gukesh now heads into the final day of the rapid section with a two-point lead. Carlsen is four points behind him. 'In this tournament in Croatia, he started off with a loss against Duda. He was already written off as a bottom feeder by others. Then he won 5 straight, taking down Firouzja with white, Praggnanandhaa with black, Abdusattorov with black, Caruana with white, and Carlsen with black! No matter what will happen tomorrow, beating those 5 consecutively is a feat very few can ever do. I hope this will give him confidence to rise to another level!' Polgar added. She was not the only one heaping praise on Gukesh after his second defeat of Carlsen. Former world champion Garry Kasparov too was impressed by Gukesh, who he likened to a computer. READ MORE | Garry Kasparov explains why playing Gukesh is 'like playing a computer': Have to beat him 5 times… he has many lives in each game Before the start of the tournament, Carlsen had not just questioned Gukesh's credentials in rapid and blitz. He had gone as far as saying that he would treat the games against Gukesh (one in rapid and two in blitz over the weekend) as ones against one of the 'presumably weaker players in the tournament'. READ MORE | Magnus Carlsen reacts to Gukesh defeat: 'Poor from me, got soundly punished… but all credit to Gukesh' As Carlsen had explained, 'Gukesh hasn't done anything to indicate that he's going to do well (in rapid and blitz). It remains to be proven that he's one of the best players in such a format. This is a very, very strong field that we have here. Players like Gukesh have a lot to prove. In the course of 27 rounds, things usually show. I hope for Gukesh's sake that he can play better.' But after the defeat to Gukesh, Carlsen was forced to admit: 'Gukesh is doing incredible well (at this tournament). It's a long way to go in the tournament but winning five games in a row is no mean feat.'
Indian Express
a day ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Magnus Carlsen reacts to Gukesh defeat: ‘Poor from me, got soundly punished… but all credit to Gukesh'
For the second time in two games, a game against world champion Gukesh has ended in defeat for world no 1 Magnus Carlsen. Following the headline-making defeat — and the emotional reaction to the loss by Carlsen — at Norway Chess in classical format, this time, Carlsen lost a rapid contest at the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia 2025 in Zagreb on Thursday night. Playing with white pieces, Carlsen was forced to resign after 49 moves. It was a game that started really positively for Carlsen and after 20 moves, he held a significant edge on the board. But then the game unraveled. You can read our analysis of how Gukesh defeated Magnus Carlsen here. After the defeat, Carlsen told the Take Take Take app: 'Gukesh is doing incredible well (at this tournament). It's a long way to go in the tournament but winning five games in a row is no mean feat.' Before the start of the tournament, the Norwegian had not just questioned Gukesh's credentials in rapid and blitz. He had gone as far as saying that he would treat the games against Gukesh (one in rapid and two in blitz over the weekend) as ones against one of the 'presumably weaker players in the tournament'. As Carlsen had explained, 'Gukesh hasn't done anything to indicate that he's going to do well (in rapid and blitz). It remains to be proven that he's one of the best players in such a format. This is a very, very strong field that we have here. Players like Gukesh have a lot to prove. In the course of 27 rounds, things usually show. I hope for Gukesh's sake that he can play better.' Talking about the game itself, a disappointed world no 1 said: 'It was poor (from me) but all credit to Gukesh. He's playing well and taking his chances. I've played kind of poorly the whole tournament. This time I got soundly punished. I think I had a very nice position. He took his chance to open up the position, after that it was a little bit like earlier when I got short of time and I could not handle it that well. And Gukesh found a lot of really good moves.' The Norwegian added: 'Honestly, I'm not enjoying playing chess at all right now. I just… I don't feel any flow at all. When I am playing, I'm constantly hesitating. It's just really poor right now.'
NDTV
a day ago
- Sport
- NDTV
D Gukesh Forces Magnus Carlsen To 'Resign', Chess Great Questions Norwegian's Domination
Reigning world champion D Gukesh stunned world number one Magnus Carlsen yet again at the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia 2025, in Zagreb, extending his win streak to five on Thursday. There wasn't any angry fist drop on the table or an animated reaction from Carlsen, who blundered from a win position yet again. With Gukesh standing triumphant, he emerged as the sole leader with 10 points at the end of the second day, with Carlsen trailing with six points. Ahead of the final set of games, Gukesh maintains a two-point advantage over Jan-Krzysztof Duda, who remains his closest challenger. Last month, Gukesh pulled off a stunning victory against the former world number one in Round 6 of the Norway Chess and continued to keep his scorching form intact. Carlsen lined up with the white pieces, while Gukesh attempted to assert control with the black pieces. The Norwegian enjoyed an early dominance and tried to create openings against the teenage Indian grandmaster in the rapid game. However, the game completely turned in Gukesh's favour after he blundered by choosing to push his b pawn to b4. Gukesh seized control from that point, forcing Carlsen back in the gripping contest. Kasparov as Gukesh beats Carlsen: "A very important day! Now we can question Magnus' domination. It's not just the second loss, it's a very convincing loss!" #GrandChessTour — chess24 (@chess24com) July 3, 2025 With less than 30 seconds left on the clock for Carlsen, the Norwegian realised the fate of the contest and decided to resign. He shook Gukesh's hand without showing much emotion or making eye contact. "Now we can question Magnus' domination because this is not just his second loss to Gukesh, it's a convincing loss," former world champion Garry Kasparov said, who was on commentary for the official stream. Kasparov wasn't impressed with Carlsen's decision to move his pawn to b4. Gukesh was pleased to turn around the contest after mixing up a couple of his initial moves and said after the contest, "Beating Magnus is always special, and this gives a bit more confidence. I had a horrible opening." (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Gukesh defeats Magnus Carlsen once again as Garry Kasparov says: ‘Now we can question Magnus' domination'
There was no angry smash on the table this time. Or an exasperated sigh of 'Oh my God' that was heard around the world. There probably won't be a thousand reels on social media too. On Thursday, for the second time in two games while facing Gukesh, Magnus Carlsen was forced to throw in the towel and resign against the current world champion. After his loss in the classical format against the Indian teenager at Norway Chess a few weeks back, this time the defeat for the Norwegian came in a rapid game at the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia 2025 in Zagreb. After the victory, Gukesh heads into the final day of the three-day rapid section as the sole leader with 10 points, while Carlsen is miles behind on six points. There is a case to be made that this result is even more significant than the one at Norway Chess: after all, Carlsen was playing with white pieces and in a format that Gukesh supposedly struggles in as compared to classical chess. 'Now we can question Magnus' domination,' former world champion Garry Kasparov, who was on commentary for the official stream, said. 'This is not just his second loss to Gukesh, it's a convincing loss. It's not a miracle… or that Gukesh just kept benefitting from Magnus' terrible mistakes. It was a game that was a big fight. And Magnus lost.' Before the start of the tournament, Carlsen had gone as far as saying that he would treat the games against the 19-year-old world champion as ones against one of the 'presumably weaker players in the tournament'. As Carlsen had explained, 'Gukesh hasn't done anything to indicate that he's going to do well (in rapid and blitz). It remains to be proven that he's one of the best players in such a format (rapid and blitz). This is a very, very strong field that we have here. Players like Gukesh have a lot to prove. In the course of 27 rounds, things usually show. I hope for Gukesh's sake that he can play better.' Over the course of six games in two days at Zagreb, Gukesh has done much more than 'playing better'. After losing the first round clash against his world championship second, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Gukesh had crushed four of the strongest players in the field in a row: Alireza Firouzja, Praggnanandhaa, Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Fabiano Caruana before his takedown of Carlsen. The resignation from Carlsen, in 49 moves, came on Thursday with more muted emotions from him, just a simple handshake, no eye contact, just a grimace before walking off the stage. On Thursday, just like at Norway Chess, Carlsen had a significant advantage from the start of the game. Both players had blitzed out their moves at the start with Carlsen trying to catch his opponent off guard with the English Opening. But on the 23rd move, Carlsen did something inexplicable: he opted to push his b pawn ahead to b4, a move that made former world champion Garry Kasparov gasp. Before that move, Carlsen had a sizeable advantage on the board and a single minute edge on the clock. But that move had changed the course of the match, felt Kasparov. 'B4? You don't play b4, you just don't play b4,' gasped Kasparov as soon as he saw what Carlsen, his one-time trainee, had done on move 23. Kasparov closed his eyes in horror and looked away from the screen. 'This is something wrong.' He repeated 'you don't play b4' many more times. Over and over. Kasparov had much more generous things to say about Gukesh, even when Carlsen had an advantage on the board. 'Playing Gukesh is like playing a computer. He's the most resilient player. He has many lives in each game. You have to beat him about five times in each game. You will be winning, but at one point (like at Norway Chess) you lose concentration and you're lost.' That's precisely what's happened to Carlsen twice now.
