Gukesh’s dream run took a hit on Day 3 as he lost five consecutive blitz games.

By Aniket Chakraborty July 7, 2025 Arrow SPORTS

After dominating the rapid section, the Indian grandmaster crumbled in faster play.

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He managed to recover slightly but was outplayed again by Praggnanandhaa.

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Magnus Carlsen surged ahead with a powerful 7.5/9 blitz score to lead the standings.

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The Norwegian grandmaster now holds 17.5 points, with Duda at 16 and Gukesh at 15.5.

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Gukesh had earlier beaten Carlsen in the rapid rounds, proving critics wrong.

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However, Carlsen's blitz mastery reminds everyone why he’s still the king of speed.

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Praggnanandhaa’s tactical win over Gukesh in the final blitz round added drama.

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With nine rounds left, Gukesh needs a near-perfect finish to reclaim his lead.

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For now, Carlsen remains the favourite, but the blitz battle is far from over.

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