In a stunning upset at the Norway Chess 2025 tournament in Stavanger, 19-year-old World Chess Champion D Gukesh Dommaraju achieved his first-ever classical victory against the world’s top-rated player, Magnus Carlsen. The dramatic Round 6 clash on June 1, 2025, saw the Indian prodigy turn a seemingly lost position into a historic win, leaving Carlsen visibly shaken and prompting an uncharacteristic outburst from the Norwegian grandmaster.

A Game of Resilience and Opportunity

The match began with Carlsen, playing with the black pieces, outmaneuvering Gukesh through the opening and middlegame. Employing a variation of the Berlin Defense in the Ruy Lopez, Carlsen gained a significant advantage, with analysts noting his near-perfect play, boasting an accuracy of 98.7%. By move 19, Carlsen was optimistic about his position, believing he had "excellent play" despite the position being close to equal. Gukesh, under intense pressure, found himself in a losing endgame, later admitting, “99 out of 100 times I would lose.” However, Gukesh’s tenacity shone through. As the game progressed into a time scramble under Norway Chess’s 10-second increment time control, Carlsen faltered with a critical blunder (52...Ne2+??), allowing Gukesh to flip the position with precise counterplay. After 62 moves, Gukesh secured the victory, prompting Carlsen to slam his fist on the board in frustration, toppling pieces and drawing gasps from spectators and commentators alike. The moment, captured in a viral video, underscored the emotional weight of the loss for Carlsen, who then left the venue without fulfilling media duties.

Gukesh’s Reaction and Perspective

Despite the monumental win, Gukesh remained grounded, describing it as “just a lucky day.” Speaking to Norway’s TV2, he said, “I’m still kind of shaken from that game. I don’t know what happened, basically. There wasn’t much I could do, the position was clearly lost. I was just trying to make moves which kind of was tricky for him.” He acknowledged Carlsen’s emotional reaction, noting, “I’ve also banged a lot of tables in my career!” displaying sportsmanship and empathy. Gukesh’s coach, Grzegorz Gajewski, hailed the victory as a confidence booster, stating, “Once you’ve done it, you know you can do it again.” The win was particularly significant given the narrative surrounding Gukesh’s world championship title, with some critics, including Carlsen, suggesting he wasn’t yet the best player—a title many reserve for Carlsen himself. This victory silenced some doubters, proving Gukesh’s ability to compete at the highest level.

A Milestone for Indian Chess

Gukesh’s triumph marked the second time in two years that an Indian teenager defeated Carlsen in classical chess at Norway Chess, following Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa’s win in 2024. The victory propelled Gukesh to third place in the tournament standings with 8.5 points, just one point behind joint leaders Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana, with four rounds remaining. The chess world was abuzz with reactions. Legendary player Susan Polgar described the loss as “one of the most painful” in Carlsen’s career, emphasizing his rare blunders and Gukesh’s relentless fighting spirit. Fans and experts dubbed the game the “turnaround of the year,” highlighting Gukesh’s ability to capitalize on Carlsen’s mistake under pressure.

Context and Implications

This was not Gukesh’s first encounter with Carlsen. The two had faced off in Round 1 of Norway Chess 2025, where Carlsen won with a spectacular king hunt, posting a cryptic message on X: “You come at the king, you best not miss.” Gukesh’s Round 6 victory served as a powerful response, showcasing his resilience and growth as a player. Earlier in 2024, Gukesh had also defeated Carlsen in a rapid playoff game at the Freestyle Chess Grand Tour, but this classical win carried greater weight due to the format’s prestige. For Gukesh, the youngest-ever world champion at 18, this victory was a milestone in his burgeoning career. Having won the Tata Steel Masters, led India to gold at the Chess Olympiad, and claimed the world championship title against Ding Liren in 2024, Gukesh has cemented his status as a global chess superstar. His coach Gajewski noted that while Gukesh excels in calculation, his style differs from Carlsen’s intuitive approach, making this win a testament to his adaptability.

Looking Ahead

The win sets the stage for Gukesh’s next challenge: facing compatriot Arjun Erigaisi, against whom he has yet to secure a classical victory. Gajewski expressed optimism, saying, “Hopefully, we can break another unbreakable: Arjun.” As Gukesh continues to compete in Stavanger, the chess world watches eagerly to see if he can build on this momentum.

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