Norway Chess 2025: Gukesh clinches maiden classical win vs Magnus Carlsen
New Delhi : In a dramatic clash at Norway Chess tournament, 19-year-old Indian prodigy D Gukesh secured his first-ever classical victory over Norwegian great Magnus Carlsen, turning the tide of a game long dominated by five-time world champion.
The Round 6 encounter on Sunday, June 1, saw Carlsen take early control and maintain the upper hand until a critical blunder under time pressure shifted the momentum. Gukesh, seizing the opportunity, capitalized to clinch a remarkable win, marking a historic moment in his young career.
With this victory, Gukesh became only the second Indian player ever to defeat Carlsen in a classical game at Norway Chess, following in the footsteps of compatriot Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa.
Watch the winning moment below:
Visibly frustrated by the unexpected loss, Carlsen struck the table with his fist moments after resigning, sending pieces flying—a rare display of emotion from the usually composed grandmaster. However, he quickly collected himself, shaking Gukesh’s hand, resetting the board, and offering a congratulatory pat on the back to the rising star.
Speaking the following day, Carlsen acknowledged Gukesh’s relentless spirit. “I remember being that age myself. Sometimes your energy, your fighting qualities, and just optimism are bigger than the quality of your moves,” Carlsen said. “On a normal day, of course, I win that game, and things look quite differently.”
For Gukesh, the win was as humbling as it was exhilarating. “I mean, not the way I wanted it to be, but okay, I’ll take it,” he said in a post-match interview with Chess.com. Reflecting on Carlsen’s emotional reaction, he added with good humor, “I have also banged a lot of tables in my career.”
The match—now circulating widely on social media—has sparked buzz in the chess world, not just for the upset, but for the mutual respect shown between two generations of talent. As the tournament continues, all eyes are now on Gukesh, the teenage grandmaster who just shook the throne.
