In a moment that combined speed and a touch of chess theatre, reigning World Champion D Gukesh and five-time World Champion Magnus Carlsen played out an ultra-fast 14-move Berlin draw in under one minute during the Super United Rapid and Blitz Chess Tournament on Sunday.
Gukesh had the white pieces, and Carlsen responded with black in what turned out to be a symbolic handshake of a game — short, sharp, and inevitably drawn.
The encounter began with the classical 1.e4 e5 and swiftly transitioned into the Berlin Defence.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
What followed was a flurry of rapid, almost instinctual moves that concluded in a well-known repetition after just 14 moves and under a minute of total playtime.
The final sequence — Qe4+, Qe6, Qd4 — repeated, signalling a peaceful truce and a split point.
Watch:
For Gukesh, the draw was a small respite after a turbulent blitz section.
Despite dominating the rapid format with six wins, including an emphatic victory over Carlsen, the 18-year-old World Champion struggled to find his rhythm in blitz.
A series of five straight losses on day one derailed his campaign.
Though he managed a few recoveries, including a draw and a win, he ultimately fell to fellow Indian prodigy R Praggnanandhaa, leaving him with 15.5 points.
In contrast, Carlsen showed once again why he remains the king of fast chess.
Amassing brilliant results, the Norwegian surged to the top. Carlsen looks poised to clinch another title if he maintains his current form.
The rapid draw against Gukesh may not have offered fireworks, but it was a telling moment — a tactical pause between two top players, one rising, one reigning.
For Gukesh, the road ahead in blitz remains steep. For Carlsen, the finish line is in sight.
Gukesh had the white pieces, and Carlsen responded with black in what turned out to be a symbolic handshake of a game — short, sharp, and inevitably drawn.
The encounter began with the classical 1.e4 e5 and swiftly transitioned into the Berlin Defence.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
What followed was a flurry of rapid, almost instinctual moves that concluded in a well-known repetition after just 14 moves and under a minute of total playtime.
The final sequence — Qe4+, Qe6, Qd4 — repeated, signalling a peaceful truce and a split point.
Watch:
Gukesh and Carlsen play the infamous 14-move Berlin draw! 😀 pic.twitter.com/pPcuQ9XxdQ
— chess24 (@chess24com) July 6, 2025
For Gukesh, the draw was a small respite after a turbulent blitz section.
Despite dominating the rapid format with six wins, including an emphatic victory over Carlsen, the 18-year-old World Champion struggled to find his rhythm in blitz.
A series of five straight losses on day one derailed his campaign.
Though he managed a few recoveries, including a draw and a win, he ultimately fell to fellow Indian prodigy R Praggnanandhaa, leaving him with 15.5 points.
In contrast, Carlsen showed once again why he remains the king of fast chess.
Amassing brilliant results, the Norwegian surged to the top. Carlsen looks poised to clinch another title if he maintains his current form.
The rapid draw against Gukesh may not have offered fireworks, but it was a telling moment — a tactical pause between two top players, one rising, one reigning.
For Gukesh, the road ahead in blitz remains steep. For Carlsen, the finish line is in sight.
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