Gukesh Stunned by 14-Year-Old Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş at the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss

The 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss in Samarkand delivered an early shocker when reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju was defeated in round two by 14-year-old Turkish prodigy Yağız Kaan Erdoğmuş. In a tournament already known for its pressure-cooker stakes and brutal pairings, the result instantly became one of the headline moments of September chess. Gukesh arrived as the event’s biggest target. Every opponent was motivated, every game carried enormous rating and qualification consequences, and even one slip could change the entire narrative of the tournament. But few expected the World Champion to stumble so soon—especially against a player young enough to be called a “future star” rather than a present-day giant. Erdoğmuş, however, played like someone who belonged on the main stage. Instead of freezing under the spotlight, he handled the opening calmly, stayed tactically alert, and gradually increased the pressure. When the critical moment arrived, he seized the initiative with confidence, forcing Gukesh into a defensive posture that only worsened as the game progressed. The upset wasn’t just a personal breakthrough for Erdoğmuş—it was a reminder of how quickly chess talent is accelerating worldwide. The new generation isn’t waiting politely for invitations. They are arriving ready to take points from anyone, including the champion himself. For Gukesh, the loss was a painful wake-up call. For everyone else, it was a warning: in modern elite chess, no reputation is safe, and no opponent is “too young.”