Gukesh Dommaraju Takes Early Lead at Clutch Chess Champions Showdown 2025

In Chess, Gukesh Dommaraju took the early lead at the Clutch Chess Champions Showdown 2025, finishing Day 1 atop the table at the St. Louis Chess Club, USA, yesterday. Against a lineup featuring the world’s elite Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, and Fabiano Caruana, the 18-year-old Indian grandmaster topped the table with 4/6 points, followed by Carlsen on 3.5, Nakamura on 3, and Caruana on 1.5.

The event brings together the top four names in world chess for a rapid-format contest unlike any other. With 412,000 dollars in prize money and a format that doubles points in later rounds, every move carries weight.