FIDE World Blitz 2025: In a stunning turn of events at the FIDE World Blitz Championship 2025, 12-year-old Sergey Sklokin delivered a remarkable upset by defeating World Champion D. Gukesh. The game is marked by precision and composure under pressure showcased the prodigious talent of one of chess’s youngest rising stars. This unexpected result has sent ripples through the chess world, highlighting the unpredictable nature of blitz chess.
Who is Sergey Sklokin: The Young Prodigy
Sergey Sklokin born in 2013, is a half-Armenian and half-Russian, representing the FIDE Federation in international competitions. A FIDE Master since 2024, he has made a name for himself by consistently challenging grandmasters in both online and over the board tournaments.
His training included a place at the prestigious FIDE Chessable Academy, where he worked closely with legends like GM Judit Polgar and GM Artur Yusupov.
12-year-old FM Sergey Sklokin beats World Champion Gukesh D in Round 3 of the FIDE World Blitz Championship!#RapidBlitz #Doha pic.twitter.com/6Ans3uXbAf
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) December 30, 2025
Sergey Sklokin Historic Victory Against Gukesh
The third-round blitz match in Doha saw Sklokin playing with white against Gukesh, who entered the contest as a super grandmaster with a 2628 blitz rating. Despite the vast experience gap, Sklokin maintained a calm and strategic approach with the clock becoming a critical factor in the final moves, Gukesh’s miscalculation on move 70 allowed Sklokin to gain material advantage, ultimately forcing the resignation of the reigning world champion.
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Sergey Sklokin Achievements Beyond the Blitz
Sklokin’s breakthrough is not limited to this single game. Earlier, in the FIDE World Rapid Championship, he gained 226.4 rating points, the highest among all Open category participants. In 2023, he dominated the Under-10 category, winning titles in blitz, rapid and chess composition.
He has also bested several grandmaster including Hikaru Nakamura, in online play, cementing his status as a rising force in global chess.
Gukesh’s Perspective on Sergey Sklokin
For Gukesh, the loss serves as a reminder of the unique challenges of blitz chess. Despite being one of the top-rated players in the world, the time pressure and rapid decision-making inherent to the format created opportunities that Sklokin expertly exploited.
Gukesh has previously noted that classical chess remains his strongest suit and both the rapid and blitz events offer him room to experiment without the weight of expectations.
What is the Future of Sergey Sklokin
Sergey Sklokin’s victory signals the arrival of a new generation of chess talent capable of competing at the highest levels. As he continues to develop, the chess community will watch closely, eager to see whether his blend of talent, discipline and fearless play can transform him from a prodigy into a grandmaster contender on the global stage.
Disclaimer: All details are based on official FIDE reports and publicly available sources. Results and ratings may change as updates occur.
