Done in 64 seconds: How final Gukesh vs Magnus Carlsen battle in Zagreb ended in 14 moves, and barely lasted a minute

When both players agreed to a draw, Gukesh had 5.10 minutes on his clock, more time than he had started the game with while Carlsen had 4:45

Magnus Carlsen takes on Gukesh at the Grand Chess Tour (PHOTO: Lennart Ootes via Grand Chess Tour)

The final Gukesh vs Magnus Carlsen battle of the three showdowns in Zagreb between the teenage world champion from India and the world no 1 from Norway ended in an anti-climatically quick draw in 14 moves at the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia. It was a showdown that wasn’t: it lasted just about a minute and five seconds. Even Carlsen was reportedly “surprised” by how soon the fight had fizzled out (The Norwegian was reportedly heard saying this to the second of Anish Giri by WGM Anastasiya Karlovich). The quick draw was a surprise for chess fans who were expecting a tense battle, considering how the first two installments of their head-to-head battle had unraveled in Zagreb.

In the first Gukesh vs Magnus Carlsen clash at the Zagreb tournament, played in the rapid format, Gukesh had defied expectations off him and handed a defeat to the five-time world champion. Not just that, the youngest classical world champion in history had risen to the top of the leaderboard after the end of the three-day-long rapid section. Gukesh’s performance in rapid had been a revelation, with former world champion Garry Kasparov praising him to high heaven by saying “playing Gukesh was like playing a computer because you needed to beat him five times in each game.”

Magnus Carlsen takes on Gukesh in a game at the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz chess tournament in Zagreb. (PHOTO: Grand Chess Tour via Lennart Ootes)

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But since the blitz portion of the event started on Saturday in the tournament, Gukesh has experienced a string of defeats. He lost to Carlsen in their first blitz clash on Saturday. On Sunday, though, the duo played out a quick draw in round 13 of the blitz portion. It was a battle that lasted just one minute and four seconds. When both players agreed to a draw, Gukesh had 5:10 minutes on his clock — more time than he had started the game with — while Carlsen had 4:45.

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Before the game, Carlsen said that he was playing in “survival mode”. He said he was just “hustling” his way in games. The draw against the Indian teenager was his third of the day out of four games, with his only win coming against Alireza Firouzja. Carlsen also drew with Anish Giri and Fabiano Caruana.

WATCH: Gukesh vs Carlsen ends in 14 moves

Gukesh and Carlsen play the infamous 14-move Berlin draw! 😀 pic.twitter.com/pPcuQ9XxdQ

— chess24 (@chess24com) July 6, 2025

Despite being in “survival mode” Carlsen ended up winning the title, while Gukesh was third in the final standings.

“When nobody else has a great performance, my B-game is usually enough. Always striving for more though!” Carlsen posted on his X after securing the title.

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INTERACTIVE: How Magnus Carlsen and Gukesh played out a 14-move draw

The world champion from India had started the day with back-to-back defeats against Wesley So and Nodirbek Abdusattorov before defeating Jan-Krzysztof Duda, who was ahead of him in the standings.

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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)

Despite leading the tournament by a handsome margin, Carlsen had said that he was “feeling super shaky” before the Gukesh game.

“I feel super shaky. I feel like my play is not there at all so far. But there results are working out, so that’s good! Now I’m kinda in survival mode. Obviously, the results are working out great in the other games for me. I really cannot get going so far. I’m managing to hustle it,” Carlsen told Take Take Take.

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The battle started with the world champion from India turning up first to the table and Carlsen being the last player from the 10-player field to arrive at the boards. Gukesh had 16.5 points at this stage while Carlsen was leading the event with 19.5 points.

Gukesh, playing with white pieces, opted for a Ruy Lopez. He pushed his pawn to e4 and Carlsen, opting for his traditional tactics before the game, chose to spent 13 seconds adjusting his pieces, before responding. The game saw an Open Berlin Defense making an appearance. But soon, after a quick exchange of minor pieces, Carlsen’s and Gukesh’s queens did a little sideways shuffle to settle for a draw by threefold repetition.

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Carlsen surprised

WGM Anastasiya Karlovich, who is part of the commentary team for analysis of the game, said there was a laughter in the playing hall when the game ended so quickly.

“There was a kind of emotion in the venue (when the game ended). It was something between disappointment and surprise, like ‘what exactly happened?’ People started to laugh. Magnus himself seemed to be surprised and I heard him chatting with the second of Anish Giri and Magnus said he didn’t expect it… this line (that Gukesh played) was not in his mind completely when he decided to choose this opening,” said Karlovich.