Indian Prodigy Outwits Chess King Carlsen
Stavanger: In a stunning display of resilience and skill, 19-year-old Indian Grandmaster Dommaraju Gukesh achieved a historic milestone by defeating World No. 1 and five-time World Champion Magnus Carlsen in a classical chess game during Round 6 of the Norway Chess 2025 tournament in Stavanger. This victory, marking Gukesh’s first-ever classical win against the Norwegian legend, has sent ripples through the global chess community and earned widespread acclaim, including praise from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who described it as “an exceptional achievement” that showcases Gukesh’s “brilliance and dedication.” The triumph not only solidified Gukesh’s reputation as the reigning World Chess Champion but also positioned him as the second Indian player, after Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, to defeat Carlsen at this prestigious tournament.
The Norway Chess 2025 tournament, a six-player double round-robin event featuring the world’s top chess talents, provided the stage for this dramatic encounter. Gukesh, playing with the white pieces, opened with the Ruy Lopez, a classic opening that set the tone for a complex and intense battle. For much of the middlegame, Carlsen held a commanding position, with analysts noting his near-perfect play, achieving 98.6% accuracy after 28 moves, according to chess24. However, as the game progressed into a tense endgame, Gukesh found himself in a precarious position, later admitting, “There wasn’t much I could do. It was just clearly lost.” Despite the odds, Gukesh’s tenacious defence kept the game alive, and a critical blunder by Carlsen under time pressure shifted the momentum. Carlsen’s erroneous knight maneuver, 52…Ne2+, turned out to be disastrous, enabling Gukesh to take the lead with 53.Rxe2+ Kxe2 54.Nxf8, thereby establishing a winning stance. The Indian prodigy transitioned with accuracy, causing Carlsen to hit the board in annoyance before admitting defeat.
This victory was particularly significant given the context of their rivalry. In Round 1 of the same tournament on 27 May 2025, Carlsen had defeated Gukesh in a thrilling king hunt, marking the Norwegian’s return to individual classical chess after nearly a year. Carlsen’s post-game remarks on X, quoting, “When you come at the king, you best not miss,” had added a layer of personal stakes to their rematch. Gukesh’s Round 6 triumph, described by ChessBase India as a moment where he showed “extraordinary will in defence before placing a dazzling counterattack,” levelled their tournament score at 1-1. Reflecting on Carlsen’s visible frustration, Gukesh displayed sportsmanship, stating, “It’s understandable. I’ve also banged a lot of tables in my career!” His composure and grace under pressure further endeared him to fans and commentators alike.
The match, which lasted over four hours, was a rollercoaster of emotions, with Gukesh acknowledging the role of fortune in his victory. “Ninety-nine out of 100 times, I would lose—just a lucky day,” he told chess24, adding, “First classical win against Magnus, I mean, not the way I wanted it to be, but okay, I’ll take it.” This win propelled Gukesh to third place in the tournament standings with 8.5 points, trailing co-leaders Carlsen and American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana by just one point, according to the official Norway Chess website. The tournament awards three points for a classical win, with additional points available in Armageddon tie-breaks for drawn classical games, making Gukesh’s full three-point haul a significant boost to his campaign.
Beyond the board, Gukesh’s victory resonated deeply in India, where chess has seen a surge in popularity following his 2024 FIDE World Championship title, making him the youngest-ever world champion at 18. Prime Minister Modi, in a post on X, lauded Gukesh’s achievement, stating, “His first-ever win against Magnus Carlsen in Round 6 of Norway Chess 2025 showcases his brilliance and dedication. Wishing him continued success in the journey ahead.” Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri praised Gukesh’s “tactical brilliance and composure,” noting that the comeback “shocked his opponent and has established the dominance of India’s youth in whichever sports they choose.” Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju also congratulated Gukesh, describing the win as “the beginning of achieving another milestone” and a testament to his “quiet confidence and fierce focus.”
The broader context of the tournament highlighted India’s growing influence in global chess. Fellow Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi also secured a victory in Round 6, defeating Chinese Grandmaster Wei Yi in Armageddon, maintaining his perfect Armageddon record and earning 7.5 points to tie for fourth place. In the women’s section, Indian players Koneru Humpy and Vaishali Rameshbabu continued to compete fiercely, with Humpy sharing the lead with Anna Muzychuk at 8.5 points, and Vaishali securing an Armageddon win against Humpy, according to Norway Chess updates. These performances highlighted the profound talent present in Indian chess, with Gukesh’s triumph acting as a pinnacle moment.
Carlsen’s reaction to the setback, documented in a viral video, featured an exasperated “OMG” and a table slam, illustrating the emotional burden of the loss on his own ground. Earlier in the tournament, Carlsen had expressed confidence, but his Round 6 blunder, as noted by ChessBase India, echoed a similar mistake he made in Round 1 against Gukesh, where a single error cost him a potential win. Despite this setback, Carlsen remains a formidable force, sharing the lead with Caruana at 9.5 points as the tournament approaches its final three rounds.
Gukesh’s journey to this victory has been marked by resilience. Earlier in the tournament, he faced setbacks, including a loss to Wei Yi in Round 5 and a challenging birthday game on 29 May against Caruana, where he salvaged a draw in classical chess before winning in Armageddon. His ability to rebound from these moments, coupled with his strategic acumen, has positioned him as a serious contender for the tournament title. As Chess.com noted, Gukesh’s win was not just a personal triumph but a reminder that “arguably the greatest of all time is no longer invincible to the World Champion.”
With three rounds remaining in the Norway Chess 2025 tournament, Gukesh’s momentum could prove pivotal. His victory over Carlsen, a player widely regarded as one of the greatest in chess history, serves as both a personal milestone and a beacon for India’s rising chess generation. As the chess world watches, Gukesh’s blend of determination, skill, and humility continues to redefine the global stage, setting the stage for an exhilarating conclusion in Stavanger.
– global bihari bureau
