‘When you play well, it’s always fun’: D Gukesh on leading world’s top players at Clutch Chess Champions Showdown

D Gukesh was extremely satisfied with how things transpired on Day 1 of the Clutch Chess Champions Showdown 2025 at the Saint Louis Chess Club, as he clinched the lead in the standings. Gukesh leads the standings for the highest-rated chess tournament of the year with four out of the possible six points.

World No 1 Magnus Carlsen is behind by just 0.5 points in the second position, followed by Nakamura (3) and Fabiano (1.5). The Clutch Chess Champions Showdown 2025 rapid tournament comprises four of the world’s best chess players. There are three round-robins in which a player will compete against all other players with both colours on each day.

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Gukesh savours brilliant opening day at Saint Louis Chess Club

The winner will be decided after nine rounds, but a win is worth different points on each day. On Day 1, a victory is worth one point, but two points on Day 2 and three points on Day 3.

Gukesh was the most successful player on day one despite losing his opening match to Carlsen. He defeated Nakamura with black pieces and secured consecutive wins over Fabiano.

Reflecting on a successful day, Gukesh said, “It was pretty good. It started with a loss, but I am still happy with that game. It was so funny, I had a good position against Magnus (for a draw)...It was unbelievable, but I am still quite happy; it’s just that I missed Bc5. The next game was a plain game.

"Then against Naka (Nakamura), pretty much all games were quite nice except for the last game. I was down on time and worse, but Fabi (Fabiano) just played F5 and gave me chances.”

When asked about the unique format of the tournament, Gukesh said that he is enjoying playing against the best players in the world.

“It’s like a sort of border of blitz and rapid, it seems fun. When you play well, it’s always fun. In general, it’s fun to play some rapid after a few classical. Always fun to play against top players,” Gukesh told the Saint Louis Chess Club’s YouTube channel.

Carlsen had a subdued game by his standards, losing to Nakamura and playing out three draws. He revealed later that, physically, he was not at his best on the opening day.

"I'm feeling like really not good at all, so I will say that I scored like about two more points than I should have probably today, and I am happy with that... my level of play was extremely poor."