In a resounding display of composure and tactical brilliance, reigning World Champion D. Gukesh clinched the Rapid title at the Grand Chess Tour 2025 Zagreb on Friday, leaving behind a field of elite global competitors.
The 19-year-old Indian chess sensation rebounded from a first-round loss to register five straight victories, including a high-voltage win over former World Champion Magnus Carlsen, to seize the sole lead in the standings.
Gukesh’s critical final-round win against Wesley So solidified his position at the top with 14 points, followed by Jan-Krzysztof Duda at 11 points. Carlsen managed to secure third place with 10 points.
The only other Indian contender, R. Praggnanandhaa, finished in joint fourth alongside Fabiano Caruana, both scoring 9 points.
The blitz segment of the tournament is scheduled for July 5 and 6, where cumulative scores across rapid and blitz will decide the overall winner.
This event marked the third leg of the GCT 2025 calendar, following the Poland and Romania editions earlier this year. Interestingly, Praggnanandhaa won the title in Bucharest and finished third in Warsaw, underscoring India’s rising dominance in global chess.
As anticipation builds for the blitz battles, Gukesh’s commanding performance in Zagreb signals the dawn of a new era in the chess world—an era increasingly led by India’s young grandmasters.
