Gukesh created history by clinching the top spot and the rapid title at the Grand Chess Tour's SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz in Zagreb, Croatia and is part of the Grand Chess Tour 2025. The 19-year-old achieved the feat with a three-point margin to complete a stunning display.

The Classic World Champion has emerged as the top favourite to clinch the overall tournament trophy. The winner will be determined following the Blitz event, which will take place over the weekend on July 5 and 6. The player with the most points after both events will be declared the winner.

As things stand, Gukesh is leading the chart with 14 points and has a three-point lead over second-placed Poland’s Jan-Krzysztof Duda, who has 11 points. Magnus Carlsen is in third place with a tally of 10 points, while Indian star Praggnanandha is joint-fourth with nine points to his name.

Gukesh had a remarkable campaign despite being dismissed by competitors most notably Magnus in the rapid format. The teenager started the competition with a defeat to Duda before going on a winning run and winning five games in a row on the second day to come into the final day with a lead of two points. The fifth victory came over Magnus, which marked his second win over the legendary Norwegian in as many months and the first in a shorter time control format.

On the third day, he started with two draws in a row against Anish Giri and Ivan Saric but sealed his victory with a win over Wesley So.

While Gukesh has proved his supremacy in the classic chess, there were several questions over him in Rapid and Blitz as he also missed the World Championship of the format last year and did not have much to show.

The SuperUnited is the third event of the Grand Chess Tour 2025 after events in Poland and Romania in April and May, respectively. There are two more events left after the Croatia leg, which will take place in the United States of America (USA) and Brazil