DOHA: World Chess Champion Gukesh Dommaraju made a powerful statement on the opening day of the FIDE World Rapid Championship, storming into a five-way tie for the lead alongside the legendary Magnus Carlsen and compatriot Arjun Erigaisi. The young Indian prodigy scored an impressive 4.5 points out of a possible 5 on Friday, December 27, 2025, showcasing a significant evolution in his rapid chess prowess.
A Commanding Start in Doha
Gukesh's day began with a solid, hard-fought draw against Canada's Shawn Rodrigue-Lemieux. However, the 18-year-old from Chennai swiftly shifted gears, embarking on a spectacular winning streak. He consecutively defeated Sergey Drygalov, Nikita Petrov, Alan Pichot, and Sina Movahed to rocket up the standings. His performance vindicates the growing belief that the classical world champion has markedly improved his game in faster time controls.
Joining Gukesh at the summit with identical 4.5/5 scores are India's Arjun Erigaisi, Norway's Magnus Carlsen, France's Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and Russia's Vladislav Artemiev. This sets the stage for a thrilling weekend of high-stakes rapid chess.
Strong Indian Contingent in the Hunt
The Indian challenge at the tournament remains robust beyond the leaders. A large chasing pack of 15 players, each with four points, is hot on the heels of the leaders. This group features notable Indian talents including Sandip Chanda, Nihal Sarin, and International Master Goutham Krishna H from Trivandrum. They are joined by global stars like Hans Moke Niemann, Anish Giri, and FIDE World Cup winner Javokhir Sindarov.
Gukesh's strong start in Doha continues a trend. Earlier this year, in July, he had topped the rapid segment of the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz event in Croatia, finishing three points clear of Jan-Krzysztof Duda. While he eventually ceded the overall title to Carlsen in the blitz rounds, that performance was a clear signal of his rapid growth.
Proving His Mettle Beyond Classical Chess
Classical chess, the format in which he made history as the youngest world champion in 2024, has always been Gukesh's acknowledged strength. However, since claiming the ultimate crown, he has deliberately expanded his focus to master other formats, and the results are beginning to show.
The remaining two days of the championship, Saturday and Sunday, will feature four rapid rounds each. With the leaderboard tightly packed at the top, every move will be crucial. Gukesh's Day 1 surge not only positions him as a serious contender for the World Rapid title but also silences any lingering doubts about his versatility and all-round skill in the fast-paced world of modern chess.
