Indian Grandmaster and reigning World Champion D. Gukesh claimed the rapid title at the Grand Chess Tour 2025 held in Zagreb, Croatia. His consistent performance and key victories over top-ranked players like Magnus Carlsen and Wesley So underlined his growing dominance in global chess.

Key Points:

• D. Gukesh scored 14 out of 18 points to win the rapid segment of the Grand Chess Tour 2025 despite an early loss to Jan-Krzysztof Duda.
• His notable victories included defeating former World Champion Magnus Carlsen in round 4 and Wesley So in the final round.
• Gukesh’s win over Carlsen came after Carlsen had publicly downplayed his abilities, making the victory even more significant.
• Although he struggled in the blitz section, scoring just 5.5/18, his rapid performance was strong enough to earn him third place overall in the combined standings.
• At just 19 years old, Gukesh’s win continues India’s rise in the world of chess and strengthens his position among the sport’s elite.