Gukesh Leads Clutch Chess 2025 After Beating Caruana Twice On Day 1

World Champion D. Gukesh made a strong start at the 2025 Clutch Chess: Champions 
Showdown in Saint Louis, finishing Day 1 in the lead with four points out of six. Despite 
losing the opening round to World No.1 Magnus Carlsen, the 19-year-old Indian star 
bounced back with three wins and two draws to take the early advantage in this three-day 
rapid event. 

A Tough Start, Then Total Control 
Gukesh began his campaign with a loss to Carlsen after getting into time trouble in a 
complicated middlegame. With only seconds on the clock, he missed the saving resource 
35.Ne3! and resigned in a position that was still defensible. 

But the setback didn’t last. Gukesh regrouped immediately, drawing the second game with 
Carlsen, and then producing a clinical positional win over Hikaru Nakamura, where his 
bishop on D3 completely dominated the board. 

The highlight came in Round 3, where Gukesh defeated Fabiano Caruana in both games 
First with a powerful kingside attack and then with the spectacular 33.Bf6!! bishop sacrifice 
that finished in a direct mating attack. 

By the end of the day, the standings looked like this: 
● Gukesh  4 points 
● Carlsen 3.5 
● Nakamura  3 
● Caruana 1.5 

Format: Why Every Win Matters More 

Clutch Chess is not a standard rapid tournament. The format rewards risk-taking and 
decisive play through a progressive scoring system: 

● Day 1 wins are worth 1 point each 
● Day 2 wins = 2 points each 
● Day 3 wins = 3 points each 

Draws on Days 2 and 3 are worth only one point, which means playing safe can backfire. 
The event also features a total prize fund of $412,000, with per-win bonuses increasing 
each day $1,000 for Day 1, $2,000 for Day 2, and $3,000 for Day 3. With that much at 
stake, fans can expect even more aggressive chess as the event progresses. 
Carlsen’s Mixed Day and Nakamura’s Upset 

Carlsen started strong, beating Gukesh in the opener and drawing his second game 
comfortably. He also converted a tricky endgame against Caruana, but later fell to 
Nakamura, who punished an over-optimistic pawn push with precise counterplay. 
Nakamura’s form was solid overall, while Caruana , despite several promising positions 
struggled to convert his chances and finished at the bottom after three rounds. 
Carlsen admitted in the post-game interview that his level wasn’t great and that he 
probably scored two more points than he deserved, a rare self-critical remark from the 
World No.1. 

Key Takeaway 
Gukesh’s recovery after the early loss showed maturity beyond his years  adapting 
quickly, handling pressure, and capitalizing on every mistake from his opponents. As the 
competition heats up, all eyes will be on whether he can maintain composure when the 
points and stakes double. 

Stay tuned for Day 2 updates and analysis of key games right here as we continue covering 
Clutch Chess 2025 live from Saint Louis. 

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