Stavanger, June 2:In a dramatic about-turn, India’s teenage chess sensation and current world champion D Gukesh recorded his first classical victory against world no. 1 Magnus Carlsen, reversing the script in Round 6 of the Norway Chess 2025 championship. The battle-hardened win is a career highlight for the 19-year-old who is now placed third at 8.5 points, just behind joint leaders Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana, both at 9.5 points.
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Gukesh Beats Carlsen: A Game of Grit, Nerves, and Redemption
Having lost the first-round encounter against Carlsen,Gukesh came back stronger and calmer. Sunday’s game also appeared to be getting away again–until Carlsen, having run out of time, made an unusual but expensive error. Gukesh capitalized on the chance, playing with accuracy and bravery to register his first classical chess win over the five-time world champion in 62 spine-chilling moves.
“99 out of 100 times I would lose… just a lucky day,” said Gukesh humbly after the match.
All Eyes on Norway Chess 2025 Leaderboard
| Rank | Player | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magnus Carlsen (NOR) | 9.5 |
| 1 | Fabiano Caruana (USA) | 9.5 |
| 3 | D Gukesh (IND) | 8.5 |
| 4 | Arjun Erigaisi (IND) | 7.5 |
| 4 | Hikaru Nakamura (USA) | 7.5 |
| 6 | Wei Yi (CHN) | 6.5 |
Coach’s Insight: “Now He Knows He Can Do It Again”
Gukesh’s coach, Grzegorz Gajewski, praised the teenager’s improvement in time management and mental resilience.
“It’s going to give him a huge pump of confidence. Once you’ve done it, you know you can do it again,” he said.
The coach highlighted how Gukesh’s loss in Round 1 was largely due to poor time management. But the win over Carlsen shows just how quickly the young Indian is learning and evolving.
Arjun Erigaisi & Vaishali Shine in Armageddon Thrillers
Arjun Erigaisi kept India’s flag flying high, winning his Armageddon tie-break against China’s Wei Yi, pushing his tally to 7.5 points and joining Nakamura in a joint fourth spot.
In the women’s section, R Vaishali beat Koneru Humpy in Armageddon, continuing her impressive run with 8 points.
Carlsen’s Rare Slip and Emotional Exit
Even Magnus Carlsen, who is used to keeping his cool, couldn’t suppress his irritation. Having discovered his mistake, he slammed his hand on the table, scattering chess pieces everywhere. In defeat, he nobly shook hands with Gukesh and patted him on the back before leaving the stage.
The symbolic moment—Gukesh closing his eyes and basking in victory—will be recalled as an icon of this year’s Norway Chess tournament.
Final Thoughts
Gukesh’s win is not only a matter of personal redemption—it’s a sign of India’s ascendant supremacy over world chess. With two Indian men making it to the top four and good showings from the women’s delegation, the Norway Chess 2025 is becoming an historic event for Indian chess.
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