‘I got soundly punished’: Magnus Carlsen Praises D Gukesh After Another Defeat, Admits Struggling for Form

Following the defeat, Carlsen was uncharacteristically candid in his post-match interview, acknowledging Gukesh's brilliance.

Just days after being labelled as one of the “weaker players” in the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia tournament by World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, Indian chess sensation D Gukesh delivered a commanding response defeating Carlsen for the second time in a row and emerging as the sole leader in the standings.

Following the defeat, Carlsen was uncharacteristically candid in his post-match interview, acknowledging Gukesh’s brilliance.

“I have kind of played poorly the whole tournament, and this time I got soundly punished. I think I had a very, very nice position. He took his chances to open up the position with c6, and after that… I got short of time and I couldn’t really handle it that well. He found a lot of really good moves,” said Carlsen in an interview with Take Take Take.

"All credit to Gukesh; he's playing well and he's taking his chances too. – He's doing incredibly well now. It's a long way to go in the tournament, but winning five games in a row is no mean feat."@MagnusCarlsen after losing to @DGukesh. pic.twitter.com/gUz3FTAJxd

— Take Take Take (@TakeTakeTakeApp) July 3, 2025

Carlsen admitted that he had a chance to steer the game toward a draw but chose to push on, a decision that quickly proved disastrous. “A couple of moves later, I was hopelessly lost. It was poor,” he reflected. “But all credit to Gukesh; he’s playing well and taking his chances too.”

The 18-year-old Grandmaster, playing with the black pieces in Round 6 on Thursday, July 4, outclassed the Norwegian in a dynamic encounter. The victory marked Gukesh’s second consecutive triumph over Carlsen and took his tally to 10 points from six rounds, establishing him as the tournament’s frontrunner.

Carlsen’s tone marked a significant shift from his earlier remarks. At the pre-tournament press conference, he had cast doubts on Gukesh’s capabilities in rapid and blitz formats. “Gukesh hasn’t done anything to indicate that he’s going to do well in such a tournament,” he had said. “I will approach it as if I’m playing one of the presumably weaker players.”

But the Indian prodigy’s performance has turned that assumption on its head. After the match, Carlsen acknowledged Gukesh’s extraordinary form, stating, “He’s doing incredibly well now. It’s a long way to go in the tournament, but winning five games in a row is no mean feat.”

Carlsen also offered a rare glimpse into his mental state, saying, “I am not really enjoying playing chess right now. I do not feel any flow at all. I am constantly hesitating. It’s just really poor right now.”

Gukesh arrived at the board before Carlsen and quietly prepared. Carlsen opened with the English and appeared to be gaining an edge with 18…Nh5 19.Bf2!. But Gukesh struck back decisively with 26…d5, initiating a sharp counterattack that tipped the balance.

As Carlsen’s time dwindled and his position deteriorated, the pressure mounted. After 49 moves, the five-time world champion resigned—humbled once again by the Indian teenager.

It wasn’t just a victory; it was a statement. Gukesh played with maturity, confidence, and clarity, showing he’s no longer a rising star but a formidable force among the world’s elite.

The win capped off a stunning day for Gukesh, who rebounded from an early loss to Jan-Krzysztof Duda by defeating Alireza Firouzja and fellow Indian prodigy R Praggnanandhaa before toppling Carlsen. Three back-to-back victories in one day underlined his growing dominance.

Chess legend Garry Kasparov, on commentary, didn’t hold back his praise. “Now we can question Magnus’ domination,” Kasparov remarked. “This isn’t just another loss. It’s a convincing one. Gukesh didn’t just capitalise on mistakes, he played better.”

With several rounds to go, the tournament is far from over. But Gukesh’s performance in Croatia has already sent a strong message—not just to Carlsen, but to the entire chess world. The teenager is here to stay, and he’s not afraid to beat the best.

As the rapid and blitz games continue, all eyes will be on whether Gukesh can maintain his momentum—or perhaps even win it all. But one thing is already clear: he has silenced his critics in the most emphatic way possible—on the board.

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