STAVANGER, Norway (Diya TV) — Emotions ran high at the 2025 Norway Chess tournament on Sunday as reigning world champion D Gukesh stunned World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in Round 6, delivering a dramatic come-from-behind victory in classical time control. The win marked Gukesh’s first classical triumph over Carlsen—and it came on the Norwegian’s home turf.
Carlsen, who had dominated the early stages of the game, blundered in the endgame under increment time pressure, allowing the 18-year-old Indian grandmaster to snatch victory in 62 moves after more than four hours of intense play. The loss prompted an uncharacteristically emotional response from Carlsen, who slammed the table in frustration, causing pieces to scatter. Moments later, he shook Gukesh’s hand and exited the venue abruptly, reportedly rushing to his car without comment.
Gukesh, still absorbing the gravity of the win, exchanged a celebratory fist bump with longtime coach Grzegorz Gajewski in the arena lobby. “It just gives a huge pump of confidence because once you’ve done it, you know you can do it again,” Gajewski told reporters after the match. “And that’s the plan.”
The victory carried added significance for Gukesh, who had lost to Carlsen in the tournament’s opening round. The turnaround—widely dubbed the “comeback of the year” by fans and commentators—vaulted Gukesh to third in the standings with 8.5 points, just behind Carlsen (9.5) and American GM Fabiano Caruana (9).
For Carlsen, the loss was not only a blow to his tournament momentum but also one of the most painful defeats of his storied career. “Carlsen rarely loses in classical chess, and he rarely commits big blunders,” said legendary GM Susan Polgar. “He had a winning position with more time on the clock. But Gukesh didn’t give up. He kept fighting, and when both were under time pressure, Carlsen made a huge mistake that cost him the game.”
Carlsen had been critical of Gukesh’s ability to handle classical formats under increment rules, making the Indian teenager’s breakthrough even more symbolic. The Norwegian, who chose not to defend his world championship title in 2024, was making his first classical appearance since Gukesh became the youngest world champion in history last year.
The match’s intensity and outcome drew massive online attention, with video of Carlsen’s reaction going viral within minutes. Despite the emotional aftermath, Carlsen showed sportsmanship, briefly patting Gukesh on the back before exiting.
This marks the second consecutive year that an Indian teenager has defeated Carlsen in classical play at Norway Chess. Last year, it was R Praggnanandhaa; this year, Gukesh joins the exclusive club of young talents to outwit the five-time world champion on the global stage.
Elsewhere in Round 6, Caruana edged out fellow American GM Hikaru Nakamura with a black draw in Armageddon. India’s Arjun Erigaisi capitalized on a blunder by China’s Wei Yi to secure victory with the white pieces, rounding out a strong day for the Indian contingent.
In the women’s section, Koneru Humpy’s critical blunder against Vaishali Rameshbabu allowed Anna Muzychuk to catch her in the standings after a win in Armageddon against Iran’s IM Sara Khadem. Meanwhile, GM Ju Wenjun notched her fifth consecutive Armageddon win in a tense time scramble against Lei Tingjie.
With only a few rounds remaining, the title race remains wide open. Gukesh’s statement win has not only reshaped the standings but also reaffirmed his credentials as a rising force in classical chess.
