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Gukesh's Calm Revenge: How He Beat Nakamura After King-Throwing Controversy

Gukesh Dommaraju got his revenge against Hikaru Nakamura in their latest chess showdown. The Indian world champion showcased his trademark composure while securing a well-deserved victory. This match came weeks after Nakamura's controversial gesture of throwing Gukesh's king into the crowd. Despite starting with a loss to Magnus Carlsen, Gukesh finished day one as the tournament leader.

Key Points: Gukesh Defeats Nakamura in Clutch Chess Champions Showdown

  • Gukesh secured victory using Ragozin Variation from Queen's Gambit Declined
  • Dominant bishop on d3 overwhelmed Nakamura's black position
  • Players exchanged smiles and handshake after controversial previous match
  • Gukesh leads tournament despite opening loss to world number one Carlsen
2 min read

Champions Showdown: Gukesh takes calm revenge on Nakamura after controversial king-throwing gesture

World champion Gukesh Dommaraju avenges Nakamura defeat after controversial king-throwing incident, emerging as day one leader in Clutch Chess Champions Showdown.

"After the win, the two players shook hands with a smile, with Nakamura leaving immediately, and Gukesh followed his well-known ritual of calmly rearranging the pieces before getting up. - ChessBase"

Saint Louis, Oct 28

Reigning world champion Gukesh Dommaraju avenged his loss to Hikaru Nakamura in the Checkmate: USA vs India exhibition match, showcasing his composed style as he secured a well-deserved victory over the American grandmaster at the Clutch Chess: Champions showdown here on Tuesday.

Nakamura had triggered a major controversy weeks earlier when he took Gukesh's king and threw it into the crowd after winning the Checkmate: USA vs India exhibition match.

In the parallel mini-match on the opening day of the , Gukesh secured a win over Nakamura with a Ragozin Variation from a QGD. A dominant bishop positioned on d3, supported by pawns on c4 and e4, overwhelmed Black's position until resistance faltered, ChessBase reports.

Their second game reached a closed pawn formation, and peace was agreed on move 34. After the win, the two players shook hands with a smile, with Nakamura leaving immediately, and Gukesh followed his well-known ritual of calmly rearranging the pieces before getting up.

After winning in the second round, Gukesh emerged as the sole leader after the opening day of the Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown. He scored four points from six games despite starting with a defeat against Magnus Carlsen. The Indian star recovered confidently with three wins and two draws to finish the day at the top.

Carlsen is closely behind with 3.5 points, having started strongly with two wins and two draws before losing to Hikaru Nakamura. Nakamura stands on 3 points, while Fabiano Caruana, who struggled in several encounters, is on 1.5.

The event's 18-game rapid double round-robin format (10 minutes plus a 5-second increment) will feature escalating point values each day: Wins are worth 1 point on Day 1, 2 on Day 2, and 3 on Day 3.

In Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown, the prize fund will total USD 412,000, with each game played under a Rapid time control of 10 mins + 5 sec. The four prizes will be awarded in the following order: USD 120,000, USD 90,000, USD 70,000, and USD 60,000. Additionally, there will be an extra USD 72,000 in bonus prizes.

The prize from each game drawn will carry over into a Champion's Jackpot, which only the tournament winner will receive. In the event of a tie for first place, a playoff will be held to decide the winner.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Amazing comeback from Gukesh! From losing to Carlsen to becoming the sole leader - that's the fighting spirit we Indians love to see. The Ragozin Variation was executed perfectly. Hope he maintains this form throughout the tournament! 🏆
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Michael C
While I'm happy for Gukesh's win, I think we should move past the king-throwing incident. Both players handled themselves well in this match. The real story is Gukesh's incredible performance - 4 points after starting with a loss shows mental toughness.
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Ananya R
Gukesh's calm demeanor is so inspiring! While others might have reacted emotionally to Nakamura's previous behavior, he let his chess do the talking. That's the Indian way - respond with grace and skill rather than aggression. More power to our champion! 🙏
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Sarah B
The prize money structure is fascinating! $412,000 total with escalating points each day makes every round crucial. Gukesh leading after day one gives him a great position. Hope he can maintain this against Carlsen and Nakamura in the coming days.
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Vikram M
As a chess enthusiast from Chennai, I've followed Gukesh since his early days. His growth has been phenomenal! The way he recovered after losing to Carlsen shows champion mentality. Three wins and two draws - that's world-class performance. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳

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