Anish Giri Secures Key Victory Over World Champion D. Gukesh in Zagreb Blitz

Anish Giri, the Dutch Grandmaster, announced on social media that a highlight of his performance at the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia 2025 in Zagreb was defeating reigning World Champion D. Gukesh. The victory, which occurred during the blitz portion of the Grand Chess Tour event, was attributed by Giri to "a fresh idea that I had worked out while preparing my next chessable course."

The match between Giri and Gukesh took place in the blitz section of the tournament, which concluded on July 6, 2025. While the rapid segment saw Gukesh draw with Giri on his way to clinching the rapid title, the subsequent blitz rounds presented new dynamics. Giri's win over the World Champion was a notable moment in the highly competitive event.

Giri emphasized the origin of his successful strategy, stating in his tweet, "And you'd think my chessable courses is kinda my opening prep B-game. Just FYI." This suggests that the preparation for his online chess education content played a direct role in his on-board success against the top-ranked player.

Gukesh, 19, demonstrated strong form by dominating the rapid section of the Zagreb tournament, securing 14 points. However, he faced challenges in the blitz segment, ultimately finishing lower in the combined standings. The Grand Chess Tour event in Zagreb serves as a crucial stop in the annual series, contributing to players' overall tour points and offering significant prize money.

Giri's ability to leverage his personal study and content creation for a high-stakes victory underscores the evolving nature of top-level chess preparation. The win adds another significant result to Giri's consistent career, further solidifying his standing among the world's elite. The Grand Chess Tour continues to provide a platform for such compelling matchups, often featuring unexpected outcomes.