Gukesh Beats Caruana in Warsaw Chess, Ties for Fourth

World Champion D Gukesh won his final rapid game against Fabiano Caruana, a significant win that ties him for fourth place in the Warsaw tournament.
By Newsroom | Chess, Sports |

Warsaw Showdown Sees World Champion's Comeback

World Champion D Gukesh concluded the rapid portion of the Super Rapid and Blitz Tournament in Warsaw by defeating Fabiano Caruana in the final round. This victory placed Gukesh in a tie for fourth position. The outcome marks a notable recovery for the young Indian player, who has reportedly faced a difficult few months.

The win over Caruana in the ninth and final round of the rapid event is a significant marker for Gukesh, signaling a return to competitive form.

Gukesh entered the final day of the rapid section having faced setbacks, including a loss to Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and a draw against Vladimir Fedoseev. Despite these earlier results, his performance against Caruana secured his position.

Super Rapid and Blitz: Gukesh beats Caruana in final round of Rapid event - 1

Round Nine Encounters

The final round saw several key matchups:

  • D Gukesh defeated Fabiano Caruana.

  • Radoslav Wojtaszek drew with Hans Moke Niemann.

  • Vladimir Fedoseev beat Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.

  • Javokhir Sindarov drew with Firoujza Alireza.

  • Jan-Krzysztof Duda drew with Wesley So.

Tournament Standings and Observations

While Gukesh secured a crucial win, Hans Moke Niemann emerged as the surprise winner of the rapid section, accumulating 13 points. Gukesh, along with Caruana and Duda, finished tied with 9 points. The blitz section of the tournament is set to follow, with Gukesh facing an additional 18 rounds. Reports suggest that Gukesh's training, including extensive blitz games against players like Duda, has been aimed at improving his performance under time pressure.

Read More: Vaishali Wins Candidates Tournament and Will Play for World Chess Title

Context of the Matchup

This encounter is not the first time Gukesh and Caruana have met in rapid play. Earlier in August 2025, Gukesh also defeated Caruana in the final round of the St. Louis Rapid. In that instance, Caruana had held a winning position, but a time scramble and subsequent errors allowed Gukesh to secure the win. Reports from that event indicated Gukesh's blitz rating was then around 93rd in the world, a figure that might be seen as questionable given his performance.

Read More:

Gukesh's recent performance has been described as a "statement victory" across multiple events. His path to the tie for fourth in Warsaw included previous wins over Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Javokhir Sindarov. The victory against Sindarov, in particular, was reportedly met with a visible display of emotion from Gukesh.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How did D Gukesh finish in the Warsaw rapid chess tournament?
D Gukesh tied for fourth place after beating Fabiano Caruana in the final round. This win was important for him to recover his competitive form.
Q: Who won the rapid section of the Warsaw tournament?
Hans Moke Niemann won the rapid section with 13 points. Gukesh, Caruana, and Duda all finished with 9 points.
Q: What happened in the final round of the rapid section?
D Gukesh defeated Fabiano Caruana. Other results included Fedoseev beating Vachier-Lagrave and draws between Wojtaszek/Niemann, Sindarov/Firoujza, and Duda/So.
Q: Has Gukesh beaten Caruana before?
Yes, Gukesh also beat Caruana in the final round of a tournament in St. Louis in August 2025. That win also came in a time scramble situation.
Q: What is next for Gukesh in Warsaw?
Gukesh will now compete in the blitz section of the tournament, which includes 18 more rounds. He has been training specifically for time pressure situations.