D Gukesh, the reigning world champion, has once again defeated Magnus Carlsen, this time at the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia 2025 tournament in Zagreb. This marks Gukesh's second consecutive win against Carlsen and his fifth consecutive victory in the tournament, propelling him to the top of the leaderboard with 10 points.

The victory came in the rapid format of the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz tournament. Carlsen, playing with white pieces, initially held a significant advantage. However, a critical blunder on the 23rd move, pushing his b-pawn to b4, turned the game in Gukesh's favor. According to Garry Kasparov, Carlsen had a significant advantage on the board and a slight edge on the clock before this inexplicable move.

Gukesh calmly exploited Carlsen's mistake as time dwindled down, securing the win after 49 moves. The silent resignation from Carlsen, a simple handshake with no eye contact and a disappointed grimace, stood in stark contrast to his previous loss against Gukesh at Norway Chess, where he had slammed the table in frustration.

The significance of this win is amplified by the fact that it occurred in the rapid format, which Carlsen has often stated is his preferred format and one where Gukesh supposedly struggles. Before the tournament, Carlsen had suggested that Gukesh was a "presumably weaker" player in the faster format. This victory challenges that assessment and raises questions about Carlsen's dominance in the chess world.

Gukesh's performance throughout the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz has been remarkable. Prior to defeating Carlsen, he secured convincing wins against Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Fabiano Caruana. His ability to capitalize on opportunities and maintain composure under pressure has been key to his success. "It's nice that I could win two games in a row from losing positions — and against Magnus," Gukesh said after his victory.

Carlsen, while acknowledging his own poor play, praised Gukesh's performance. "Gukesh is doing incredible well. It's a long way to go in the tournament but winning five games in a row is no mean feat," Carlsen said. He also admitted that he was "soundly punished" for playing poorly and that Gukesh was "playing well and taking his chances".

With three rounds remaining in the rapid section, Gukesh holds a two-point lead over Jan-Krzysztof Duda. Wesley So is in third place, followed by Carlsen, Anish Giri, and Ivan Saric. R. Praggnanandhaa is in seventh place, while Alireza Firouzja and Nodirbek Abdusattorov are further down the standings.

Garry Kasparov, commentating on the game, suggested that this win signifies a potential shift in the chess landscape. "Now we can question Magnus' domination," Kasparov 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".

The SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia 2025 tournament continues with the blitz section, where Gukesh will look to maintain his lead and further solidify his position as a dominant force in the chess world.