In a dramatic lead-up to the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia 2025, chess legend Magnus Carlsen has thrown shade at rising star Gukesh D, claiming he ranks among the less formidable competitors. This rivalry ignited after an infamous incident where Carlsen lost his cool—and the game—against Gukesh at Norway Chess, marking the first time a teenage prodigy toppled him in classical play.

Speaking candidly before their long-anticipated clash, Carlsen expressed skepticism about Gukesh's ability to shine in the rapid and blitz formats, stating, "Gukesh hasn't demonstrated that he's ready for this kind of tournament. While he played remarkably well here last time, it's yet to be proven that he's among the elite in such formats." Amid a star-studded lineup featuring chess titans like Fabiano Caruana and Alireza Firouzja, Carlsen seems poised to take on Gukesh with caution, treating him as one of the tournament's underdogs.

The SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia marks the third leg of the 2025 Grand Chess Tour, where intense competition will unfold across nine rapid and 18 blitz rounds. Carlsen is scheduled to face Gukesh once during rapid play and twice during blitz, promising an electrifying showdown.

Fresh off a two-week honeymoon, Carlsen cooly indicated that his primary competition would come from seasoned players like Caruana and Firouzja, further fueling rivalry narratives ahead of their encounters.

Humorously reflecting on the table-smashing incident that went viral, former world champion Garry Kasparov jested about providing sturdier tables in Zagreb. When asked if he’d check the robustness of the tables pre-game, Carlsen replied with a grin, "No, I plan to make good moves so those gestures won’t be necessary." And regarding the avalanche of memes stemming from the table incident, Carlsen admitted, "I haven't seen any. For me, it was a painful loss. While I understand the discourse, I would have much preferred a win without the drama. Overall, it's good for chess, but I’m not actively searching for that stuff."

With a combustible mix of talent and rivalry brewing, all eyes will be on Carlsen and Gukesh as they take to the board—will the Indian teenager rise to the challenge or will Magnus reaffirm his dominion? Stay tuned!