In a dramatic sixth-round encounter at the 2025 Norway Chess tournament in Stavanger, 19-year-old Indian Grandmaster and reigning World Champion D. Gukesh achieved his first classical victory over World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen. Despite being in a challenging position for much of the game, Gukesh capitalized on a rare endgame blunder by Carlsen, turning the tide in a tense time scramble. The match concluded with Carlsen visibly frustrated, slamming the table and leaving the venue without addressing the media.
This victory propelled Gukesh to third place in the tournament standings with 8.5 points, just one point behind co-leaders Carlsen and American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana.
Reflecting on the match, Gukesh said, “It’s my first classical victory over Magnus—not the way I expected or wanted it to happen, but I’ll take it. I was just trying to play moves that might be tricky for him.” He added, “Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, I would have lost. It was just a lucky day.”
The tournament continues with key matchups ahead, including Gukesh facing fellow Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi and Carlsen taking on American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura in the seventh round.
Gukesh’s performance underscores the rising prominence of Indian chess on the global stage and adds a compelling chapter to the ongoing rivalry between the young champion and the seasoned Carlsen.
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