Norway Chess 2025: Gukesh secures maiden classical win over Magnus Carlsen

Magnus Carlsen has always been sharp with words. This time, all he could manage was a quiet “OMG” under his breath, moments after slamming the board in frustration. The World No. 1 had just lost to D Gukesh — the one player the Norwegian thought he wouldn’t lose to.

In a game full of twists and turns, Carlsen was in control for most of the middlegame. But a costly mistake under time pressure during the endgame turned things around, allowing the Indian teenager to seize the advantage and convert with accuracy.

Playing white, Gukesh opened with the Ruy Lopez and gradually built pressure through careful manoeuvring and strong central play. A bold queen sacrifice on move 27 stood out in an otherwise balanced middlegame, where Carlsen still seemed comfortable.

The key moment came at move 52. A miscalculated knight move by Carlsen gave Gukesh just enough of an opening. From there, the 19-year-old played with clarity and composure, eventually forcing Carlsen to resign on move 62 after exhausting all defensive resources.

This was Gukesh’s second win of the tournament — the first coming against Hikaru Nakamura — and his maiden classical victory over Carlsen. He now stands third in the table with 8.5 points, just one behind the leader, Carlsen.

Meanwhile, Arjun Erigaisi scored a win over Wei Yi to move up to fifth place with 7.5 points.

In the Women’s section, R Vaishali defeated second-placed Koneru Humpy to climb to fourth. Anna Muzychuk continues to lead the standings.

In the past, Magnus had made several pointed remarks about Gukesh, often suggesting he didn’t see him as a serious threat or a worthy World Champion. He even posted on X after his first-round victory over Gukesh, quoting: “When you come at the king, you best not miss.”

For Gukesh, beating Carlsen isn’t just a milestone — it’s deeply personal validation. He didn’t just win a game; he silenced a critic who happens to be the most dominant player of the modern era.