In a heart-stopping battle at Norway Chess 2025, teenager D Gukesh, 18, stunned five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen to secure what is arguably the biggest victory of his life. It was his first Classical victory over the world No. 1 since he became the youngest world champion in chess history.
The Indian teenager had lost to Magnus Carlsen previously in the event, raising questions over his title victory over Ding Liren. But D Gukesh struck back with a bang, showing he is among the best and putting the word out for a sizzling new rivalry with the Norwegian icon.
From Dream to Reality
D Gukesh broke history in December by defeating China’s Ding Liren in a best-of-14 series to become the world’s youngest ever Classical world champion. Though the milestone was achieved, he stood openly when he stated, “Obviously, becoming the world champion doesn’t mean that I am the best player in the world. Obviously, there’s Magnus.” He had his sights firmly on the next challenge — defeating Carlsen in Classical chess.
A Shaky Start to 2025
D Gukesh started the year in good form with a runner-up in Tata Steel Chess. He was, however, far from good in the Freestyle Grand Slam tournaments in Weissenhaus and Paris. His form continued to deteriorate with a second-worst result in the Superbet Classic in Romania.
It was rough at Norway Chess. He lost two consecutive games to Magnus Carlsen and fellow countryman Arjun Erigaisi. The critics began wondering whether his World Championship victory was an isolated incident.
Comeback Begins
D Gukesh quieted his skeptics soon enough. He beat world No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura in Round 3 and drew with Fabiano Caruana before winning the Armageddon tiebreak. Following a draw with Wei Yi, he had Carlsen once again — this time, determined to rewrite history.
Gukesh Hunts Down the ‘King’
Even as he played white, D Gukesh was on the defensive early on as Carlsen took charge after a queen exchange in move 27. But Gukesh remained calm. From the 40th move onwards, he started pursuing Carlsen’s king. A string of checks culminated in an important blunder by Carlsen in move 52 (Ne2+). Gukesh capitalized and trapped the Norwegian in a lost game.
Carlsen Reacts, Gukesh Stays Humble
Magnus Carlsen, clearly irritated, slammed the table, sending pieces flying before hastily apologizing and clapping Gukesh on the back. The Indian youngster was humble, describing it as “just a lucky day” and confessing, “99 out of 100 times I would lose.”
The victory placed Gukesh third in the standings after six rounds. With rounds to spare, and a rematch against Arjun Erigaisi, he is still in the running for the title.
More significantly, this display commands the chess world’s attention. Gukesh didn’t just beat Carlsen — he demonstrated he can perform under pressure, outsmart the best, and live up to world champion status.