Magnus Carlsen Calls Gukesh ‘One of the Weaker Players’ at Grand Chess Tournament

Carlsen Calls Out Gukesh Ahead of SuperUnited Blitz: “Still Has to Prove Himself.”

Magnus Carlsen has turned up the heat ahead of his much-awaited showdown with reigning world champion D. Gukesh, delivering a candid and cutting assessment of the 18-year-old’s standing in rapid and blitz formats. Speaking at a pre-tournament press conference before the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia 2025, Carlsen suggested Gukesh is among the “presumably weaker players” in a star-studded field.

“I think Gukesh played quite well here last time,” Carlsen said in Zagreb. “But it remains to be proven that he’s one of the best players in this format. Gukesh hasn’t really shown he can thrive in such a field. I’ll approach the game as I would against one of the weaker opponents.”

The sharp remarks come weeks after Gukesh stunned Carlsen in a classical game at Norway Chess—overturning a difficult position to defeat the five-time world champion, prompting a viral moment where Carlsen slammed the table in frustration. That match highlighted Gukesh’s strength in long time controls but also set the stage for a new dynamic between the two.

Now, with the third leg of the Grand Chess Tour shifting to rapid and blitz—formats where Carlsen has reigned supreme—he appears confident Gukesh will struggle to replicate that success. The two are scheduled to meet three times between July 3 and 6: once in rapid, twice in blitz.

While Carlsen is embracing the spotlight, Gukesh faces a new kind of test—proving that his classical world title can translate into dominance across all formats. His compatriot, Praggnanandhaa R, arrives in Zagreb as one of the tour’s form players, having won in Bucharest.

When asked about the title contenders, Carlsen didn’t hesitate. “If I’m in good shape, it’ll take something special to beat me,” he said, naming Alireza Firouzja as his only real rival for the title.

Though Gukesh has yet to respond to Carlsen’s latest comments, the young champion will undoubtedly be motivated to answer on the board. With rapid and blitz requiring razor-sharp instinct and deep experience, the stage is set for a high-stakes test of Gukesh’s adaptability.

Adding perspective ahead of the tournament, chess legend Garry Kasparov reflected on the mindset needed to stay at the top: “The moment you stop thinking about improving—it’s over. The main opponent is your own excellence.”

As Zagreb braces for fireworks on the board, the psychological battle between Carlsen and Gukesh may be just as compelling as the moves themselves.