Carlsen shrugs off victory over Gukesh after back-to-back losses against Indian teenager: 'Kind of rubbish'

Magnus Carlsen returned to winning ways against D Gukesh after back-to-back defeats, beating the 19-year-old Indian Grandmaster on Day 1 of the Blitz competition in the SuperUnited Croatia Rapid & Blitz on Saturday.

Carlsen had lost to the reigning Classical world champion for the first time in his career at last month’s Norway Chess despite being in a dominant position, and would later describe the loss as one that made him feel “washed and useless”.

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Gukesh would then register a second consecutive triumph over the world No 1 in the Rapid leg of the ongoing tournament. And unlike his sudden turnaround in the Classical format last month, Gukesh remained on level terms with Carlsen on Day 2 at Zagreb before pouncing on a blunder and making his legendary opponent resign in 49 moves.

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Carlsen says he was playing ‘old man’s chess’

Carlsen, however, bounced back on Saturday, the fourth day of the competition and the first to feature Blitz games, with a victory in 47 moves. But when asked about his performance, the 34-year-old Norwegian GM wasn’t too impressed.

“The game itself was kind of rubbish. I was really just playing old man’s chess, trying to play without tactics whatsoever. It worked out well; can’t complain,” Carlsen told Take Take Take at the end of the day’s games.

"The game itself was kind of rubbish. I was really just playing old man's chess, trying to play without tactics whatsoever. It worked out well; can't complain."@MagnusCarlsen after beating Gukesh in the blitz. pic.twitter.com/gzhgeud7JR

— Take Take Take (@TakeTakeTakeApp) July 5, 2025

Carlsen also described his wife Ella, whom he had tied the knot with earlier this year, as his “lucky charm” after his better half decided to watch him play on Saturday. “She decided to come to the games today, which I greatly appreciate. So far she’s been great luck charm.

Carlsen and Gukesh found themselves a the opposite end of the Blitz standings – at top and bottom respectively – with one more day to go in the tournament that is part of the Grand Chess Tour.

After winning the Rapid title with a total of 14 points , ahead of Polish GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda (11) and Carlsen (10), Gukesh endured a miserable run on Day 1 of the Blitz event by losing seven out of nine outings, five of them on the trot.