Watch: Carlsen, Gukesh share few feelings throughout handshake forward of showdown in Croatia

Magnus Carlsen and D Gukesh have been assembly one another fairly often this yr, having been a part of a number of tournaments this yr together with on the prestigious Norway Chess in addition to within the first two legs of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour. Carlsen has received Norway Chess in addition to the Paris Grand Slam occasion. Gukesh, alternatively, had been having a forgettable run since he had completed runner-up at Tata Metal Chess, struggling badly within the two Freestyle Chess occasions in addition to at Superbet Traditional Romania.

The 19-year-old, nonetheless, has introduced his marketing campaign again on observe with an improved efficiency in Norway, the place he completed third after accumulating a historic overcome Carlsen. And beginning on Wednesday, the world No 1 and the reigning world champion will discover themselves going head to head in a match that won’t be performed both within the Freestyle or in Classical format.

Carlsen and Gukesh share few feelings within the briefest of greetings

Carlsen and Gukesh, in any case, can be locking horns in faster codecs on the SuperUnited Speedy & Blitz Croatia in Zagreb beginning Wednesday. And forward of the match’s opening spherical, the official X deal with of Grand Chess Tour shared a video by which Carlsen and Gukesh had been noticed sharing a short handshake with no phrases spoken, one thing of a prelude to their newest showdown,

Watch:

Magnus Carlsen was busy signing autographs when Gukesh quietly took the seat subsequent to him, unnoticed. When Magnus circled, he noticed the World Champion and shook fingers with him.🤝
We’re wanting ahead to seeing them face off in Zagreb, the place they’ll play one fast and two… pic.twitter.com/QLKh2O7qQy

— Grand Chess Tour (@GrandChessTour) July 1, 2025

Carlsen and Gukesh can be going through one another in a single fast and two blitz video games within the Croatian capital. This can be their first assembly since Gukesh pulled off a surprising upset over Carlsen in Spherical 6 of Norway Chess, which ended with the 34-year-old residence favorite and defending champion slamming his fist on the desk in a match of rage after squandering the sport from a powerful place.

And the way by which the video is doing the rounds forward of the match serves to counsel that Carlsen vs Gukesh continues to be the central rivalry on the planet of chess in 2025 – fuelled by the previous’s unfiltered criticism that’s directed in the direction of the reigning world champion in addition to fellow members of the Indian ‘Golden Technology’ – Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa.