The unpredictability of blitz chess caught up with world champion Gukesh Dommaraju on the FIDE World Blitz Championship 2025 in Doha, the place the Indian star suffered a shock defeat to 12-year-old FIDE Grasp Sergey Sklokin. The loss, which got here within the third spherical, was formed by a late error below excessive time stress and marked a low level in Gukesh’s 2025 season.
On paper, the matchup appeared closely tilted in Gukesh’s favour. The reigning world champion entered the sport with a blitz score of 2628, standing 228 Elo factors away from Sklokin, who’s rated round 2400. The distinction in titles was simply as stark. Gukesh is an excellent grandmaster with a classical score above 2750, whereas Sklokin holds the FIDE Grasp title, two ranges beneath grandmaster.
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Regardless of the hole, the competition remained finely balanced deep into the endgame. The defining second arrived on transfer 70, when the clock turned the decisive issue. Taking part in with the black items, Gukesh had solely eight seconds remaining, whereas Sklokin had about 13. At that stage, the younger prodigy provided an alternate rook. Gukesh was a pawn down, however the alternate would have simplified the place and provided a practical path to a draw.
Gukesh selected a riskier route. Rejecting the alternate, he performed 70Rf4 in an try and maintain successful possibilities alive. The choice proved expensive. Sklokin capitalized with precision, quickly successful a bishop and lengthening his materials edge. Together with his place collapsing and no pawns left to combat with, Gukesh resigned roughly ten strikes later.
The end result stood in distinction to Gukesh’s earlier displaying on the FIDE World Speedy Championship. Competing within the speedy format, he completed twentieth general, successful six video games and shedding solely two. He was additionally a part of the main group after the opening day earlier than fading within the later rounds.
Forward of the event, Gukesh had tempered expectations, making it clear that classical chess stays his strongest format. He described the Speedy and Blitz occasions as possibilities to experiment and play with out stress.
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