With the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz leg of the Grand Chess Tour underway in Zagreb on Wednesday, all eyes are once again on Magnus Carlsen and Gukesh Dommaraju as their rivalry continues to simmer with tension, potential, and now, pointed words. Ahead of their rapid and blitz face-offs, former World Champion Carlsen didn’t hold back when asked about the reigning classical world champion. “Gukesh hasn’t done anything to indicate that he’s going to do well in such a tournament,” Carlsen told media as quoted by chess24. “I hope for his sake that he can play better, but playing him in this tournament, I will approach it as I’m playing one of the presumably weaker players,” he added. The remark has sharpened focus on the highly anticipated matchup between the 33-year-old Norwegian icon and the 19-year-old Indian prodigy. Gukesh may have held his nerve in longer formats, but rapid and blitz are Carlsen’s domain, and the veteran isn’t shy about underlining the same.
Magnus Carlsen to D Gukesh (Image via X)
Adding another layer to the mix, Carlsen also reflected on his return to Zagreb, a city he missed in 2024 due to the passing of his mother. “A little bit of a mixed bag for me,” Carlsen admitted. “It is a format that I really enjoy and a city that I really enjoy. I have lots of good memories, but I also have very, very difficult memories from not playing last year.” This week’s tournament will see Carlsen and Gukesh face off in one rapid and two blitz games. They are joined by a world-class field including India’s R Praggnanandhaa, Alireza Firouzja, Fabiano Caruana, and Nodirbek Abdusattorov.
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In a now-viral moment shared by the Grand Chess Tour, Carlsen and Gukesh shared a quiet handshake, acting as a subtle but powerful nod to the rivalry ahead.
