During Norway Chess 2025, D. Gukesh achieved the unthinkable. He defeated chess’s greatest talent and former world number one, Magnus Carlsen, in a classical game in Carlsen’s hometown. Not only this, Gukesh claims the monumental victory of being the 2nd Indian to defeat Carlsen in this prestigious contest after R. Praggnanandhaa.
The Match: Victory Is Sweet
Gukesh suddenly found himself on the losing end of the stick in the sixth round and was posed to face judgement day in a position held by Magnus, in which he would be guaranteed to win. With everything on the line and only 62 moves in a life-or-death situation, Gukesh pulled the lever, deciding the outcome in his favor against Magnus. At the young age of just 19, he showcased how great a mind he enjoyed and, alongside his gradual increase in fame, he continued to deliver on demand at tournaments, giving him all control over the chess world.
Carlsen’s Reaction/Outburst: I Did Not Expect This
Even still, that position wasn’t the most remote thing performing the impossible with the tendons of Canadian leg muscles. Forgiving the full blame for this one goes fully on Magnus. His famed unyielding holds only stand on the brink, rushing events with the teenage brute strength. After the damage was already done and the pieces smashed to the ground, Gukesh exclaimed, “My fingers are off the attack!” Although Carlsen was furious at the start, he managed to calm himself down, saying sorry to Gukesh on two separate occasions, and even gave the young champion a pat on the back before making his way out of the hall.
Gukesh, showing utmost respect in all scenarios, outright dismissed his victory, calling it a “lucky day” and claiming, “99 out of 100 times I would lose. Just a lucky day!” He highlighted how time pressure was part of his defeat and stressed how important it is to not give up, stating he was “about to resign” but chose to keep battling instead. His character throughout the match won him praise from chess legends as well as fans who admired his sportsmanship.
Consequences for the Global Chess Competition
This event has striking consequences for the world of chess. Gukesh’s triumph further motivates a younger wave of Indian chess players, showing a change in the chess hegemony. Like his coach Grzegorz Gajewski said, defeating Carlsen gives a ‘huge pump of confidence’ for Gukesh and his colleagues and proves the Norwegian king is not a chess machine.
The Next Clash and Future Challenges
Following this victory, Gukesh rises to the third position in the standings, following the two leaders, Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana. Now the chess public greatly expects to see more matches between those Gukesh has set his goals on overshadowing, including compatriot Arjun Erigaisi. Focus remains on Gukesh as he becomes the center of attention during the Norway Chess 2025 tournament, along with the question, is Indian chess ready for its first world champion?
