BIG Upset! World champion D Gukesh knocked out by Frederik Svane
World chess champion D Gukesh, who suffered a major defeat in the 2025 FIDE World Cup, was eliminated in the 3rd Round after losing 1.5-0.5 to German Frederik Svane. The defeat shocked the fans and became one of the biggest surprises of the tournament due to the progress of other Indian stars such as Erigaisi and Praggnanandhaa.
In a big upset at the 2025 FIDE World Cup, the last world chess champion D Gukesh was eliminated in an unexpected third round after losing to German Frederik Svane. The Indian grandmaster, currently ranked 9th in the World, was one of the favorites for the tournament and his early exit became a major topic of discussion in the global chess community.
Svane Stuns Gukesh in Round 3
The match between Gukesh and Svane started evenly. In the first game, Gukesh, playing with black, comfortably held Svane to a draw and a tense decider.
In the second game, the 19-year-old Indian player changed gears, opting for an attacking approach with the white pieces. However, Svane remained calm under pressure and took advantage of Gukesh’s slight positional error midway through the game. The German capitalized decisively, converting his advantage with precision to seal a 1.5-0.5 aggregate victory and secure his place in the next round.
A Striking Sorrow
The result caused ripples in the chess world. World No. 85 Frederik Svane was seen as the clear underdog against Gukesh, who won the world title in 2024 and is in outstanding form.
The World Cup’s knockout format allows little margin for error and even the slightest miscalculation can lead to elimination, something Gukesh has experienced first-hand. Despite his departure, analysts believe that this defeat will be a valuable lesson for the young champion as he prepares for future tournaments.
Mixed Results for the Union of India
While Gukesh’s departure was disappointing, some other Indian players continued their strong performances:
Arjun Erigaisi took the lead after defeating Shamsiddin Vokhidov (UZB) with a score of 1.5-0.5.
R Praggnanandhaa defeated Robert Hovhannisyan (ARM) (1.5-0.5 overall).
P Harikrishna defeated Daniel Dardha (BEL) (1.5-0.5 overall).
Pranav V also improved with a 1.5-0.5 victory over Titas Stremavicius (LTU).
However, not all Indian players could make progress. Diptayan Ghosh and Pranesh M were eliminated after tough matches against Gabriel Sargissian (ARM) and Vincent Keymer (GER) respectively.
Several high-stakes matchups remain balanced and head towards decisive tiebreaks, including Vidit Gujrathi v Sam Shankland (USA) and Narayanan S v Yu Yangyi (CHN).
What’s Next for Gukesh?
Gukesh’s defeat will be a disappointment, but the young grandmaster has consistently shown resilience throughout his career. The Chennai-born prodigy, who achieved the rare feat of becoming a world champion in his youth, remains a central figure in India’s chess revolution.
Fans will now turn their attention to India’s remaining stars, including Erigaisi, Praggnanandhaa and Vidit, who continue to carry the country’s hopes in the FIDE World Cup 2025.
