Zagreb, July 4, 2025 — Indian chess prodigy and reigning World Chess Champion D Gukesh clinched the rapid title at the prestigious SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz 2025 tournament, part of the Grand Chess Tour, by scoring an impressive 14 points out of 18. His dominant performance has put him ahead of top contenders Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Magnus Carlsen as the event enters its blitz phase.
Gukesh Dominates the Rapid Section
Gukesh demonstrated remarkable consistency and form throughout the three-day rapid segment. His turning point came on Day 2, where he won five consecutive games, showcasing his tactical sharpness and endgame precision. On the final day, he drew against Anish Giri (Netherlands) and Ivan Saric (Croatia), before closing strong with a win over Wesley So (USA), sealing his top spot with 14 points.
Top Challengers Trail Behind
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Jan-Krzysztof Duda, who had handed Gukesh his only loss in the first round, finished second with 11 points.
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Magnus Carlsen, Norway’s top-ranked player and former world champion, placed third with 10 points, after drawing with Nodirbek Abdusattorov and winning against Fabiano Caruana.
Strong Showing by Indian Contingent
India’s R Praggnanandhaa also impressed with a total of 9 points, tying with Fabiano Caruana. Praggnanandhaa scored a win over Saric and held both So and Duda to draws in the final rounds. His consistent performance keeps him in contention going into the blitz phase.
Other notable scores:
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Alireza Firouzja, Anish Giri, and Wesley So each ended the rapid section with 8 points.
What’s Next: The Blitz Stage
The blitz section of the tournament begins on July 5 and will determine the overall champion of the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz 2025. With a 3-point lead, Gukesh heads into the blitz rounds as the frontrunner, holding a strong advantage in his quest to win the full event.
As the chess world watches closely, all eyes will be on whether Gukesh can maintain his momentum and add another prestigious title to his growing list of achievements.
