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India’s young chess star, D Gukesh, stunned the world on Sunday, May 1, 2025, at Norway Chess. The 19-year-old world champion defeated Magnus Carlsen, a chess legend, in a thrilling classical game. This victory marked Gukesh’s first-ever classical win against Carlsen, proving his skill and heart. Let’s dive into this incredible moment, filled with drama, grit, and grace.
A Shocking Turnaround in Round 6
In Round 6, Gukesh and Carlsen met in Stavanger, Norway. Carlsen took control of the game early on because it was his home field. Gukesh struggled in a losing position with white pieces. But everything changed in the endgame when Carlsen made a rare mistake. Gukesh remained composed, took advantage of the situation, and reversed the direction. After 62 moves and over four hours, he won. This victory was a massive upset, leaving fans and commentators in awe.
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Carlsen’s Emotional Reaction
Carlsen’s frustration boiled over after the loss. He slammed the table, sending pieces flying, startling everyone, including Gukesh. Yet, he quickly apologized, shook Gukesh’s hand, and patted his back. The moment went viral on Norway Chess’s official X handle. Carlsen’s outburst showed how much the defeat stung, especially at home.
Gukesh’s Grace Under Pressure
Despite the huge win, Gukesh stayed humble.He referred to it as a “lucky day” and stated, “I would lose 99 out of 100 times.” He acknowledged that Carlsen had the advantage for the majority of the game. Gukesh’s tricky moves in the time scramble led to Carlsen’s mistake. “Time scrambles can get wild,” he noted. His calm demeanor won hearts, showing true sportsmanship.
A Boost for Gukesh’s Confidence
Gukesh’s coach, Grzegorz Gajewski, praised the win’s impact. “It gives him a huge confidence boost,” he said. Beating Carlsen, who many see as the greatest, was a milestone. Gajewski hoped it would silence critics doubting Gukesh’s world champion title. “You try to ignore those comments,” he added, “but this win earns him credit.” Gukesh’s other coach, Vishnu Prasanna, lauded his resilience. “He kept fighting, even when lost,” Prasanna said.
Rising in the Rankings
With 8.5 points from this victory, Gukesh moved up to third place in Norway Chess. He is now only one point behind Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana. Previously, on May 27, 2025, Gukesh lost to Carlsen in Round 1. Carlsen returned to classical chess after that exciting king hunt defeat. However, Gukesh learned from it, improving his time management. By Round 6, he stayed neck-and-neck with Carlsen on the clock, clinching the win in a tense time scramble.
A Historic Feat for India
Gukesh became the second Indian to defeat Carlsen at Norway Chess, following Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa. This victory was extra special for Gukesh, who faced Carlsen’s cryptic jab after Round 1: “You come at the king, you best not miss.” Gukesh didn’t miss this time, proving his mettle as world champion. Since winning the title against Ding Liren in 2024, Gukesh has faced doubts because Carlsen skipped the 2023 championship. This win answered those doubts loudly.
Praise from Chess Legends
Chess legend Susan Polgar celebrated Gukesh on X. “He showed the heart of a warrior!” she wrote. Polgar admired his fight despite being in trouble on the board and clock. “He won with grace,” she added, highlighting his humility. Gukesh’s ability to stay composed under pressure earned global respect.
Other Highlights from Norway Chess
Sunday brought more excitement at Norway Chess. Fabiano Caruana defeated Hikaru Nakamura in an armageddon game with black. Arjun Erigaisi won with white in Armageddon after taking advantage of Wei Yi’s error. In the women’s section, Anna Muzychuk caught up with Koneru Humpy after Humpy’s rook blunder against Vaishali Rameshbabu. Ju Wenjun also shone, securing her fifth straight armageddon win against Lei Tingjie in a dramatic time scramble.