Gukesh's Carlsen Win Fueled by Cousin's Prediction; Extends Lead at Zagreb SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz

Gukesh Credits Cousin After Carlsen Victory, Extends Lead in Zagreb

D. Gukesh emerged victorious in the rapid segment of the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz tournament held in Zagreb, Croatia. His stellar performance included a notable win against the world's top-ranked player, Magnus Carlsen. Following this triumph, Gukesh humorously recounted a bet he had made with his cousin.

Gukesh had initially forgotten to acknowledge his cousin in the post-match interview after defeating Carlsen on Thursday. He later rectified this omission, explaining, "Before this tournament, one of my cousins predicted I would beat Magnus. We agreed that if I did, I would give him a shoutout in my interview. I completely forgot, and he was quite upset."

The young grandmaster demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout the competition. Despite losing his initial game to Jan-Krzysztof Duda, he swiftly recovered with an impressive streak of five consecutive wins. His victory in Round 4 against Carlsen proved pivotal, placing him in a commanding position.

Gukesh concluded the rapid portion of the tournament on a high note, securing a win against Wesley So of the United States in the final round. He strategically capitalized on a tactical error, winning the game in 36 moves.

His performance in the rapid section comprised six wins, two draws, and a single loss.

Looking ahead to the blitz format, Gukesh aims to maintain his momentum. "I believe I've been playing good chess so far. My strategy is to continue playing good chess with effective time management, and I hope it all works out," he stated.