A Rare Setback for the Young World Champion
World chess champion D Gukesh Dommaraju faced an unexpected low point in his 2025 season after losing a blitz game to a 12-year-old chess prodigy, FIDE Master Sergey Sklokin, at the FIDE World Blitz Championship 2025 in Doha. The defeat came after a costly mistake under severe time pressure, surprising fans and experts alike.
Big Rating Gap, Bigger Surprise
On paper, this was a heavily one-sided contest. Gukesh entered the game with a blitz rating of 2628, while Sklokin was rated around 2400, a gap of 228 Elo points. Gukesh is a super grandmaster, with a classical rating above 2750, while Sklokin currently holds the FIDE Master title, two levels below grandmaster. Despite this difference, the young Russian showed remarkable calm and precision.
Blitz Not Gukesh’s Strongest Suit
Blitz chess has never been Gukesh’s preferred format. Known for his deep calculations and long-form strategy, the Indian teenager excels in classical chess. Even before the tournament, Gukesh had made it clear that rapid and blitz events were not his top priority. He described the championship as an opportunity to experiment, learn, and enjoy the game rather than chase results.
The Critical Moment Under Time Pressure
The turning point came in Round 3 of the championship. On move 70, Gukesh, playing with the black pieces, had only eight seconds left on the clock, while Sklokin had 13 seconds. At that moment, Sklokin offered a rook exchange, which would have likely led to a drawable position for Gukesh.
Instead of simplifying, Gukesh chose to push forward aggressively with 70…Rf4, hoping to create winning chances. That decision proved costly.
How One Move Changed the Game
After declining the rook trade, Gukesh soon found himself in trouble. He lost a pawn and then a bishop, slipping further behind with each move. Within the next ten moves, his position became unsalvageable. With no pawns left and no clear counterplay, Gukesh eventually resigned, handing Sklokin a memorable victory.
“Blunder of the Round,” Says Ashley
Grandmaster Maurice Ashley, who was commentating on the official FIDE broadcast, called it possibly the worst mistake of the round. He pointed out that Gukesh’s well-known dislike for draws often pushes him to take risks.
Ashley explained that since Gukesh was already a pawn down, exchanging rooks was the sensible choice. “He should have been happy with a draw,” Ashley said, adding that Gukesh’s fighting spirit sometimes works against him, even at the highest level.
Learning From Losses
While the defeat raised eyebrows, it also highlighted Gukesh’s fearless mindset. His refusal to settle for draws has been one of the reasons behind his rapid rise in world chess. However, blitz chess leaves little room for such risks, especially when the clock is ticking fast.
Overall Performance Still Solid
Despite this setback, Gukesh’s overall performance in Doha has not been disappointing. In the World Rapid Championship, he finished 20th, winning six games and losing only two. He was even among the leaders after the first day, showing that his form remains strong across formats.
A Champion Still Growing
At just 19 years old, Gukesh is still learning how to balance aggression with caution, especially in faster formats. Losses like these, though painful, are part of a champion’s journey. For fans, the defeat does not diminish his status—it simply reminds everyone that chess, especially blitz, can be brutally unpredictable.
