Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen claimed victory at the 2025 Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown in Saint Louis, securing the title with two games still remaining.
Carlsen’s performance was emphatic — he defeated World Champion D. Gukesh twice, followed by back-to-back wins against GM Fabiano Caruana, to clinch the title and the $120,000 first prize before even facing GM Hikaru Nakamura in the final round.
He later drew both games against Nakamura, earning an additional $50,000 clutch-bonus, bringing his total prize money to $170,000 over just three days of play. Caruana finished second, Nakamura third, and Gukesh fourth.
Format and Scoring System
The Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown is known for its innovative format. The event featured 18 rapid games played over three days among four elite players — Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, and Gukesh Dommaraju.
The “clutch point” system increased the value of wins on later days, rewarding consistency and fighting spirit.
Each win on day one was worth one point, day two offered two points, and day three offered three points per victory. This structure encouraged players to maintain intensity until the final rounds.
A Flawless Final Day for Carlsen
After expressing disappointment with his play on the first two days, Carlsen entered day three determined to turn things around.
He delivered four straight wins — two against Gukesh and two against Caruana — demonstrating trademark precision and confidence.
Reflecting on his resurgence, Carlsen said:
“There are still things here and there that I’m not super happy about, but there was more flow, and I felt I was on top of things — not missing as many tricks.”
His win over Gukesh in the Ruy Lopez was described as “very clean” by the commentators. Later, a miscalculated pawn push from the world champion allowed Carlsen’s rook to invade on the sixth rank, quickly collapsing the position.
Carlsen admitted recalling his loss to Gukesh at Norway Chess earlier in the year, saying:
“If I blow this one, then I don’t know what to do.”
Standings and Prize Distribution
Carlsen finished 9 points clear of his nearest rival — a dominant margin in an elite four-player field. Over the event, he lost only three games and drew five, a testament to his adaptability and endurance in rapid formats.
Caruana and Nakamura Hold Ground
Caruana, who had just won his fifth U.S. Championship three days before the event, entered Saint Louis visibly fatigued but still delivered strong results.
He defeated Nakamura early on the final day, securing second place overall. “I couldn’t bring myself to look at chess,” Caruana joked afterward. “I don’t even understand how I got second.”
Nakamura showed flashes of brilliance throughout, particularly in his late-round draw streak, but was unable to catch Caruana in points. He finished third with 14.
Gukesh’s Learning Experience Before the World Cup
World Champion D. Gukesh, who had led after the opening day, finished fourth with 10 points. The 19-year-old admitted that he might have been conserving energy ahead of the upcoming FIDE World Cup in Goa.
He remained upbeat despite the results:
“There are no better training partners than these three — the good thing is, these three won’t be there.”
For Gukesh, the event provided valuable top-level practice just days before India hosts the World Cup — another milestone moment for global chess.
Another Crown for Carlsen
By winning the Clutch Chess title, Carlsen reaffirmed his dominance across formats.
The Norwegian, already a five-time World Champion, continues to thrive in rapid and innovative competitions.
As he summed it up after the final round:
“It’s really satisfying to show that when I’m playing well, I’m still quite a bit better than the others.”
With this victory, Magnus Carlsen adds yet another prestigious title to his long list of achievements — and once again proves that, regardless of the format, he remains the man to beat.
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