HT CorrespondentHT Correspondent
Jul 02, 2025 09:41 PM IST
They are going to meet thrice – as soon as in speedy, and twice in blitz – through the third leg of the Grand Chess Tour in Zagreb
Bengaluru: Roughly a month after their now-viral encounter at Norway Chess, world No.1 Magnus Carlsen and reigning world champion Gukesh D will face one another once more within the third leg of the Grand Chess Tour in Zagreb, Croatia.
The speedy and blitz event, which obtained underway on Wednesday, includes a star-studded, 10-player subject – together with three of the world’s high 5. Praggnanandhaa R – winner of the Bucharest leg – is the opposite Indian in competition.
Carlsen and Gukesh will meet thrice through the occasion, between July 3 to six – as soon as in speedy, and twice in blitz. On July 3, Gukesh will sit throughout from Carlsen for the primary time since his win in Spherical 6 of Norway Chess – a victory that went viral on social media after the Norwegian’s visibly anguished response – thumping the desk and sending the items scattering – after a dramatic blunder and loss from a profitable place. It was additionally the primary time Carlsen had misplaced to the Indian teenager in a classical recreation.
“I believe Gukesh performed fairly nicely right here final time, but it surely stays to be confirmed that he’s top-of-the-line gamers on this format,” Carlsen stated. “We now have a really, very sturdy subject…Gukesh hasn’t performed something to point that he’s going to do nicely in such a event. I hope, for his sake, that he can do higher. However enjoying him on this event, I’ll strategy it as if I’m enjoying one of many presumably weaker gamers (within the event).”
Requested to call the event’s high contenders, Carlsen known as Alireza Firouzja a transparent “second favorite”: “If I’m in fine condition, it should take one thing particular to beat me.”
On the eve of the event, former world champion Garry Kasparov supplied Gukesh just a few phrases of recommendation: “The second you cease bettering, really, the second you cease fascinated by bettering – it’s over. I stayed on high for thus lengthy as a result of I knew that the principle opponent is your personal excellence… The second you relaxation, you understand it gained’t take lengthy to say no.”
Reflecting on the months since his title win, Gukesh spoke about taking time to regulate to the burden of expectations: “Now I’ve form of settled into the brand new life… I’m again to specializing in working arduous and being my finest self in each event.”
