A Bold Statement from the Chess King

In a surprising pre-tournament interview, reigning chess champion Magnus Carlsen took a jab at India's teenage prodigy Gukesh D. The Norwegian grandmaster claimed Gukesh is ‘one of the weaker players’ heading into the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia, raising eyebrows and stirring the chess community.

Setting the Stage for a High-Stakes Battle

The SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz competition is the third leg of the 2025 Grand Chess Tour, featuring a star-studded lineup including renowned players like Fabiano Caruana and Alireza Firouzja. While Gukesh has previously shown promise in classical formats, Carlsen expressed skepticism about his performance in faster time controls, remarking, 'Gukesh hasn’t done anything to indicate that he’s going to do well in such a tournament.'

Defending His Skill: Gukesh Steps Up

Despite Carlsen's critique, Gukesh has come out firing, making headlines by claiming a joint lead after Day 1. This is his chance to cut through the noise and prove his doubters wrong. The pressure is on as he prepares to face Carlsen in one rapid and two blitz rounds.”},{