Gukesh Leads Zagreb Rapid Chess After Carlsen Win, Reveals Cousin's Prophetic Bet

D. Gukesh emerged victorious in the rapid segment of the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz tournament held in Zagreb, Croatia, showcasing exceptional skill by defeating world number one Magnus Carlsen. Following this significant triumph, Gukesh shared an amusing anecdote about a bet with his cousin, who had foreseen his victory against Carlsen.

After initially forgetting to acknowledge his cousin in the post-match interview after his win against Carlsen on Thursday, Gukesh later made amends. "It's quite funny. Before the tournament, my cousin predicted I would beat Magnus. We made a deal: if I won, I'd give him a shoutout in the interview. I completely forgot, and he was quite upset," Gukesh recounted with a laugh.

The young grandmaster demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout the tournament. Despite an initial setback with a loss to Jan-Krzysztof Duda, he rebounded with an impressive streak of five consecutive wins. His victory in Round 4 against Carlsen was a crucial turning point, propelling him into a leading position.

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

His overall performance included an impressive six wins, two draws, and only one loss.

Looking ahead to the blitz format, Gukesh remains committed to maintaining his strong performance. "I believe I've been playing well, so my strategy is to continue playing good chess with effective time management, and I hope everything works out," he explained.