In a dramatic twist at the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025, 16-year-old American grandmaster Abhimanyu Mishra pulled off one of the biggest upsets in recent chess history by defeating reigning world champion D Gukesh. The victory makes Mishra the youngest player ever to beat a sitting world champion in classical chess, surpassing even Gukesh’s own record.
The clash, held during the third round of the prestigious tournament, saw grandmasters from around the world pause their games to witness the tense battle unfold. Gukesh, who made headlines earlier this year after claiming the world title at just 18, found himself on the back foot against Mishra’s composed and aggressive play.
The Indian champion appeared to struggle under time pressure after an early g-pawn push, choosing a defensive setup that eventually crumbled. Mishra capitalized on the errors, with the game culminating in Gukesh’s resignation on move 61. The victory sparked visible excitement among the spectators—and quiet disbelief on the champion’s face.
“It wasn’t a very clean game,” Mishra admitted to FIDE post-match, “but I’m really happy with the result.” The teen, already the youngest grandmaster in history at age 12, added that the tournament was going better than expected: “I think I’m at par with them,” he said, referring to Gukesh and fellow Indian star R Praggnanandhaa.
The setback adds pressure to Gukesh’s title defense campaign, especially after being held to a draw by 14-year-old Turkish prodigy Yagiz Kaan Erdoğmuş in the previous round.
It was a tough day overall for the Indian contingent, with Praggnanandhaa also suffering a surprise loss to Germany’s Matthias Bluebaum. However, Arjun Erigaisi delivered a much-needed win for India, defeating England’s Nikita Vitiugov to stay in contention.
The Grand Swiss, one of the key events on the road to the Candidates Tournament, continues to showcase a generational shift in global chess, where teenage prodigies are not just competing but rewriting the record books.
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