In a dramatic showdown that will be etched in chess history, reigning world champion Dommaraju Gukesh pulled off a stunner over former world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in the sixth round of Norway Chess 2025. The magnitude of the win was quite evident and was for the world to see through a visibly frustrated Carlen’s actions.
It marked Gukesh’s first-ever classical win against the 34-year-old Carlsen, a feat made even more remarkable given the pressure of facing the Norwegian legend on his home turf in Stavanger.
Gukesh turns it all around and WINS his first classical game against Magnus Carlsen!https://t.co/7Aid1cvNlK#NorwayChess pic.twitter.com/KMpRadXJq0
— chess24 (@chess24com) June 1, 2025
Gukesh, just 18 years old, kept his composure in a tense battle, playing with the white pieces. For most of the game, Carlsen appeared to have the upper hand. Yet, Gukesh held his ground, waiting for an opportunity. That chance came in the endgame when Carlsen, under time pressure, made a rare but costly error, an uncharacteristic blunder that Gukesh seized.
The moment was not lost on the young champion. Beaming with pride after the match, Gukesh celebrated with his longtime coach Grzegorz Gajewski, delivering what the Polish grandmaster later described as the hardest fist bump he’d ever received.
Gukesh beat Magnus for the first time in classical chess 🤩 What a day for the World Champion 💪 #NorwayChess pic.twitter.com/U7atQrEIjL
— Norway Chess (@NorwayChess) June 1, 2025
This isn’t the first time Carlsen has been surprised by an Indian youth at Norway Chess. Just last year, it was Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa who handed the Norwegian a defeat in classical time control. Now, Gukesh joins that elite company, this time as the reigning world champion.
Carlsen, clearly shaken, reacted with visible frustration. After the game, he slammed the table before swiftly exiting the venue.
The loss comes just days after Carlsen bested Gukesh in their first-round encounter, prompting a cryptic message on social media: “You come at the king, you best not miss.” Many took it as Carlsen’s declaration of supremacy in classical chess. But on Monday, Gukesh didn’t miss; he struck back.
A great quote from The Wire pic.twitter.com/z9fBOdbtMd
— Magnus Carlsen (@MagnusCarlsen) May 26, 2025
This clash also carried broader significance. Carlsen, who chose not to defend his world title after clinching his fifth in early 2025, had been on a hiatus from classical chess. His return to the format coincided with Gukesh’s historic rise as the youngest world champion in the game’s history.
Adding to the day’s celebrations for Indian chess, Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi also scored a crucial win, defeating China’s Wei Yi.
Heading into Round 6, Carlsen topped the standings with 9.5 points, trailed by Fabiano Caruana (8) and Hikaru Nakamura (6.5). But with Gukesh’s momentum-building victory, the title race is now wide open as the tournament barrels toward its decisive final rounds.
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