Grand Chess Tour 2025: Gukesh beats Wesley so to win Rapid Title, Enters Blitz with Commanding Lead

Gukesh defeated American Grandmaster Wesley So in the final rapid round on Friday to finish the nine-round rapid section with 14 points, taking a three-point lead into the blitz segment.

Gukesh, just 18 years old, dismantled Wesley So in 38 moves with the white pieces in the ninth round, marking his seventh win in the rapid section. The victory is particularly impressive as Wesley is known for his prowess in faster formats, ranked world no. 15 in rapid chess, while Gukesh entered the event ranked 42nd in this format.

Despite being labeled by some, including Magnus Carlsen, as "weak" in rapid chess, Gukesh defied expectations and silenced critics. Notably, he also defeated Carlsen in the sixth round, adding weight to his credentials in shorter time controls.

Current Standings After Rapid Round:

Rank    Player    Points
1    Gukesh Dommaraju (IND)    14
2    Jan-Krzysztof Duda (POL)    11
3    Magnus Carlsen (NOR)    10
4    Praggnanandhaa R. (IND)    9

What’s Next: 18 Rounds of Blitz

The tournament now enters the blitz segment, featuring 18 rounds. With a solid cushion, Gukesh will look to maintain momentum. The field includes four of the world’s top five players:

• Magnus Carlsen
• Fabiano Caruana
• Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu
• Gukesh Dommaraju

Round 9 Highlights:

• Alireza Firouzja (FRA) drew with Nodirbek Abdusattorov (UZB)
• Magnus Carlsen drew with Anish Giri (NED)
• Praggnanandhaa drew with Jan-Krzysztof Duda
• Fabiano Caruana (USA) beat Ivan Saric (CRO) with white pieces

The blitz rounds promise intense action, with Gukesh now the clear player to watch in this landmark tournament.