Garry Kasparov has delivered a scathing assessment of Magnus Carlsen's recent performance against D. Gukesh, suggesting the former world champion approached their match with a "revenge" mindset. This, according to Kasparov, is "never a good mindset" in chess. The context of this criticism stems from Gukesh's recent victory over Carlsen at Norway Chess, followed by another significant win at the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia tournament in Zagreb.

Kasparov, commentating on the game, didn't hold back his disapproval of Carlsen's play, particularly a move early in the game. He repeated, "You don't play b4," expressing disbelief and dismay at Carlsen's strategic decision. He conveyed there was something wrong with Carlsen's approach.

Kasparov contrasted his disapproval of Carlsen's play with high praise for Gukesh's resilience and mental fortitude. He likened playing against Gukesh to playing against a computer, highlighting the Indian teenager's ability to withstand pressure and bounce back from unfavorable positions. "Playing Gukesh is like playing a computer," Kasparov said. "He's the most resilient player. He has many lives in each game. You have to beat him about five times in each game". Kasparov also noted Gukesh's "computer-like" focus throughout the tournament. He stated that Gukesh is the kind of player you have to beat multiple times.

Kasparov emphasized the significance of Gukesh's win, calling it a "convincing loss" for Carlsen, not merely a result of mistakes. "This is not just his second loss to Gukesh, it's a convincing loss," Kasparov asserted. "It's not a miracle or that Gukesh benefited from terrible mistakes. It was a real fight. And Magnus lost". He further added, "Now we can question Magnus' domination". This statement carries weight, considering Carlsen's long-standing dominance in the chess world.

Notably, Carlsen himself had made comments before the tournament, seemingly downplaying Gukesh's rapid and blitz credentials. Carlsen had said he would approach games against Gukesh as if he was playing one of the "presumably weaker players in the tournament". Kasparov's remarks suggest that Gukesh's performance has not only challenged Carlsen on the board but also undermined the Norwegian's pre-tournament assessment.

Gukesh's victory in Zagreb has solidified his position as a serious contender in the chess world. Starting the final day of the rapid section as the sole leader with 10 points, Gukesh displayed composure and capitalized on Carlsen's strategic errors, securing the win after 49 moves. This win follows Gukesh's triumph over Carlsen in the classical format at Norway Chess, further cementing his reputation as a formidable opponent.

While Kasparov acknowledges Gukesh's status as the reigning world champion, he also points out that Carlsen is still widely considered the better player by many metrics. Kasparov has previously described the current crop of Indian chess players, including Gukesh, as "Vishy's children," paying tribute to Viswanathan Anand. He also cautioned Gukesh about complacency, advising him that "the moment you rest, you know it'll not take long especially now to decline".