World champion Gukesh Dommaraju put on a master class performance on day one of Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown 2025, taking the lead with four points out of six. After a shaky start against Magnus Carlsen, the 19-year-old bounced back with three wins and two draws to reaffirm his rising position in world chess.
Carlsen started strongly with two wins and two draws, but slipped against Hikaru Nakamura, losing to the white pieces and finishing just behind Gukesh. Meanwhile, Nakamura is third with three points and Fabiano Caruana is further behind at 1.5.
But behind the ladder, all eyes were on Gukesh’s rematch with Nakamura and how he handled it. Earlier this month, Nakamura made headlines at the Checkmate tournament for a theatrical moment when he threw Gukesh’s king into the crowd after defeating him. The clip went viral and drew a wide response fans who called it disrespectful and unsportsmanlike.
It was later revealed that this was a dramatic gesture part of a staged publicity stunt, but this explanation didn’t appease the fans much. Many still saw the act as unnecessary showmanship, contrasting it sharply with Gukesh’s calm and collected demeanor.
In Clutch Chess, Gukesh got his reward in the best possible way: on the chessboard. Outplaying Nakamura with razor-sharp precision and ice-cold composure, he sealed the victory without a flicker of emotion. No celebration, no reaction, just a handshake and a quiet exit.
Social networks reacted quickly. One fan wrote that “Gukesh’s quiet brilliance speaks louder than any celebration, a true champion in every sense.” Another said Gukesh “not only knocked Hikaru’s crown off his head by beating the world number two, but also his arrogance with grace”. Others praised his composite brilliance, while another simply wrote: “GUKESH, remember that name.”
In a world where viral moments often come from drama, Gukesh’s quiet triumph stood out as a victory not just of chess skills but of character.
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
October 28, 2025
