In a stunning twist at Norway Chess, Indian teenage grandmaster D Gukesh defeated Magnus Carlsen, handing the former World Champion a rare classical loss on his home turf. The victory on May 1 marked Gukesh’s first classical win over Carlsen and signaled a new chapter in their rivalry.
Despite the magnitude of the win, Gukesh remained modest, calling it a “lucky day.” He admitted, “99 out of 100 times I would lose. I was just trying to play moves that were tricky. Luckily, he got into a time scramble.”
Carlsen, known for his composed demeanor, reacted uncharacteristically—slamming the table in frustration and storming out, startling even Gukesh. Though Carlsen later apologized, his actions drew attention across the chess world.
Playing with the white pieces, Gukesh defended resiliently, capitalizing on Carlsen’s endgame error. The Norwegian had dominated early, but time pressure led to an unexpected collapse.
This was a revenge victory for Gukesh, who had lost to Carlsen in the opening round. Carlsen had earlier mocked Gukesh’s play on social media with a cryptic jab: “You come at the king, you best not miss.”
Chess legend Susan Polgar lauded Gukesh’s humility and spirit, stating, “He has the heart of a warrior. He showed what it means to win with grace.”
This clash also marked Carlsen’s return to classical chess, after stepping away from the format and relinquishing his World Champion title earlier in the year.
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