Reigning world chess champion D Gukesh endured a roller\u2011coaster start to the Grand Chess Tour: Super Rapid and Blitz 2026 in Poland after beginning with a draw against Firouzja, then a defeat to Hans Niemann, but bounced back by defeating Duda.<\/p>\n
In what turned out to be one of the most dramatic starts to a chess event, reigning world chess champion D Gukesh kicked off the Grand Chess Tour: Super Rapid and Blitz 2026 with a couple of tough results before fate finally swung his way at the end of day one in Warsaw, Poland.<\/p>\n
Gukesh opened with a draw against GM Alireza Firouzja in a game he was touted to win, and then Hans Niemann defeated him in a match that had been heading toward a draw, putting the world champion under immense pressure. He wrapped up day one by winning against locally favoured Jan-Krzysztof Duda in the third rapid match.<\/p>\n
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It was an unusual start for the world champion as he committed major blunders and got mired in controversy in Warsaw.<\/p>\n
Costly move cost Gukesh advantage vs Firouzja<\/p>\n
In the first game against GM Firouzja, Gukesh squandered an advantage with a single move, thereby pivoting the game towards a draw and starting the event on a grim note. With black pieces, it looked like he would defeat Alireza as the world champion had gained control of the game and held an advantage.<\/p>\n
But a mistake from Gukesh led to a costly blunder, and the game ended in a draw within a few moves.<\/p>\n
World champion blunders again in second match<\/p>\n
Gukesh\u2019s round two contest against Niemann became one of day one\u2019s biggest highlights as he got mired in controversy. During the match, while attempting to change the square of his knight, the world champion knocked over<\/a> Gukesh, nearly losing on time against Niemann, knocks the pieces over!https:\/\/t.co\/ZY1lUUBb4Y<\/a>#GrandChessTour<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/XYGzjROewH<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 chess24 (@chess24com) May 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n When the 19-year-old attempted to pick up the piece, he toppled Niemann\u2019s pawn as well. Gukesh was already under a time crunch, and he had hit the clock to avoid getting flagged, even when two of Hans\u2019 pieces were not in their positions.<\/p>\n The third blunder of the day came not from the world champion but from Duda, and Gukesh capitalised on the mistake to force a handshake after 45 moves, securing a favourable result following the earlier blunders.<\/p>\n Gukesh, the only Indian at the event, will face 2026 Candidates winner Javokhir Sindarov in round five in a highly anticipated clash on Wednesday. The Uzbek GM will face the reigning world champion later in the year for the world chess championship showdown.<\/p>\n STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD<\/p>\n First Published: Home<\/a>Sports<\/a>Chess<\/a>D Gukesh gets lucky reprieve after two blunders on dramatic opening Grand Chess Tour day in WarsawEnd of Article
\nHans’ queen on the board.<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMay 06, 2026, 06:17 IST<\/p>\n