D Gukesh Triumphs Over Fabiano Caruana in Rapid Section of Super Rapid and Blitz Poland
D Gukesh Triumphs Over Fabiano Caruana in Super Rapid and Blitz Poland
Warsaw, Poland — In a thrilling display of skill and strategy, reigning world champion D Gukesh defeated world No. 3 Fabiano Caruana in 49 moves at the Super Rapid and Blitz Poland tournament on Thursday. This victory comes just a day after Gukesh’s impressive win against Fide Candidates winner Javokhir Sindarov, marking a remarkable comeback for the young Indian Grandmaster.
Gukesh’s journey in the tournament began with a strong performance against Polish Grandmaster Jan Krzysztof Duda, who played a pivotal role in Gukesh’s success at the 2024 World Championship. With three consecutive wins, Gukesh finished fourth in the Rapid section, accumulating nine points from nine matches.
While finishing outside the top three might typically be seen as a setback for a reigning champion, Gukesh’s recent performances signal a potential resurgence. After a challenging year that included underwhelming results at prestigious events like Tata Steel Chess and the Prague Masters, Gukesh’s latest showing suggests he may be regaining his form just in time for his title defense against Sindarov later this year.
How Gukesh Defeated Caruana
In their match, Gukesh, playing with the white pieces, opted for a Queen’s Pawn Opening that transitioned into a Catalan Opening. Caruana struck first, initiating a pawn exchange in the fourth move. Both players faced challenges throughout the game, with Gukesh making a notable error in the 19th move that could have jeopardized his position.
However, the reigning champion quickly recovered, earning praise from the Stockfish engine for a decisive 26th move that initiated a bishop exchange near Caruana’s king. The turning point came in the 38th move when Caruana made a critical blunder with 38. g4, allowing Gukesh to seize control of the game. Despite having a queen, three pawns, and a knight, Caruana ultimately conceded defeat as Gukesh’s queen relentlessly pursued his king.
As Gukesh continues to build momentum in the lead-up to his title defense, chess enthusiasts around the world are eager to see if this young prodigy can reclaim his dominant form and secure his legacy in the chess world.
First Published: May 08, 2026, 05:00 IST