Susan Polgar on Gukesh: ‘Some doubted his worthiness as World Champion… written off as a bottom feeder at Zagreb’

Gukesh lost his opening game to Jan-Krzysztof Duda (who was his second in the world chess championship battle against Ding Liren last year). But after that loss, he rebounded spectacularly, taking down five of the best players in the 10-player field at Zagreb, including Carlsen.

You can read our analysis of how Gukesh defeated Magnus Carlsen here.

INTERACTIVE: How Gukesh defeated Magnus Carlsen

Magnus Carlsen reacts after resigning against Gukesh in a rapid game at the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia 2025 in Zagreb on Thursday. (PHOTO: Grand Chess Tour via Lennart Ootes)

Gukesh now heads into the final day of the rapid section with a two-point lead. Carlsen is four points behind him.

“In this tournament in Croatia, he started off with a loss against Duda. He was already written off as a bottom feeder by others. Then he won 5 straight, taking down Firouzja with white, Praggnanandhaa with black, Abdusattorov with black, Caruana with white, and Carlsen with black! No matter what will happen tomorrow, beating those 5 consecutively is a feat very few can ever do. I hope this will give him confidence to rise to another level!” Polgar added.

She was not the only one heaping praise on Gukesh after his second defeat of Carlsen. Former world champion Garry Kasparov too was impressed by Gukesh, who he likened to a computer.

READ MORE | Garry Kasparov explains why playing Gukesh is ‘like playing a computer’: Have to beat him 5 times… he has many lives in each game

Before the start of the tournament, Carlsen had not just questioned Gukesh’s credentials in rapid and blitz. He had gone as far as saying that he would treat the games against Gukesh (one in rapid and two in blitz over the weekend) as ones against one of the “presumably weaker players in the tournament”.

READ MORE | Magnus Carlsen reacts to Gukesh defeat: ‘Poor from me, got soundly punished… but all credit to Gukesh’

As Carlsen had explained, “Gukesh hasn’t done anything to indicate that he’s going to do well (in rapid and blitz). It remains to be proven that he’s one of the best players in such a format. This is a very, very strong field that we have here. Players like Gukesh have a lot to prove. In the course of 27 rounds, things usually show. I hope for Gukesh’s sake that he can play better.”

But after the defeat to Gukesh, Carlsen was forced to admit: “Gukesh is doing incredible well (at this tournament). It’s a long way to go in the tournament but winning five games in a row is no mean feat.”