India, July 4 -- After his brazen statement on D Gukesh, Magnus Carlsen was left shellshocked in Round 6 of the Grand Chess Tour, losing to the reigning world champion in the rapid format. The win also saw Gukesh take the sole lead, winning five games in a row.

Ahead of their showdown, Carlsen questioned Gukesh's abilities in rapid and blitz formats, stating that he hadn't done anything to show that he would do well in the tournament. But his words backfired as the Indian GM looked well-prepared for all possibilities. The game began with Carlsen starting on a strong note, as both players blitzed out at the start. The world No. 1 tried to catch Gukesh off gaurd with the English Opening, but then in the 23rd move, he decied to push his b p...