The FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, has turned into a testing ground for reigning World Champion D Gukesh. The 19-year-old prodigy, who entered the tournament with high expectations, has now suffered back-to-back defeats, dealing a major blow to his chances of competing for the top prize. Losses to 16-year-old American GM Abhimanyu Mishra and Greek GM Nikolas Theodorou have left the champion reeling, with just 3 points from 6 rounds.

A Painful Two Days for the Champion

Gukesh’s downward spiral began with his shocking loss to Abhimanyu Mishra, the youngest grandmaster in chess history, in Round 5. Still reeling from that setback, he faced Nikolas Theodorou in Round 6, playing with the White pieces and looking for redemption. However, what unfolded was another painful defeat marked by ambition, miscalculations, and frustration.

The match kicked off with Gukesh opting for 1.e4, met with Theodorou’s Petrov Defence. Gukesh sprung a surprise with the rare 9.c5 thrust, a move that unsettled his opponent. But Theodorou responded with calm precision, building a sturdy defence and manoeuvring his pieces effectively. The game headed toward a tense middle phase, but cracks soon began to show in Gukesh’s game plan.

The Decisive Rook Endgame

The contest turned in the late middlegame when Gukesh attempted to force a draw through a threefold repetition claim after 34.Ra7+. Believing the position had been repeated three times, he called the arbiter, only for the claim to backfire. It turned out to be only a twofold repetition, and the challenger not only remained unfazed but also gained two bonus minutes on the clock.

Theodorou seized the opportunity, altering his king’s route and consolidating his position. The endgame slipped quickly out of Gukesh’s hands, and despite his resilience, the World Champion was forced to resign after 47 moves. For Gukesh, the feeling of having victory or at least a draw within grasp, only to lose due to a miscalculation, was visibly crushing.

Frustration Boils Over

Eyewitnesses noticed Gukesh storming out of the playing hall post-defeat, visibly frustrated and exclaiming in disappointment. For a champion who is used to grim battles and clutch victories, back-to-back setbacks are no small mental challenge. As GM Harshit Raja analysed, “He was ambitious, he wanted to play for a win, but somewhere he lost control of the game. That ambition backfired.”

Tournament Standings and the Road Ahead

With six rounds behind him, Gukesh sits on 3 points, while leaders such as Parham Maghsoodloo are already ahead at 5 points. Even if the teenager manages perfect scores in the remaining five rounds, his tally of 8 points may still fall short of the title race requirements. This mathematically translates into a near-end of his realistic title chances at the Grand Swiss.

Wednesday’s rest day could not have come at a better time for Gukesh. The defending World Champion now has the opportunity to reflect, recover, and return with a clearer focus. While the crown at the Grand Swiss may be slipping away, fans and followers will be eager to see if the young prodigy can regain his composure, play enterprising chess, and finish strong on the leaderboard. For a player of Gukesh’s calibre, the battle is never truly over until the last move is made.

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