D Gukesh created history by becoming the youngest world chess champion. However, his performance since then has been inconsistent. He came close to winning the Tata Steel Chess title but lost to R Praggnanandhaa in the tie-breaks. That final took place in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands.

Poor Run in Freestyle Chess

Following that, Gukesh failed to impress in the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour. In the first leg in Weissenhaus, Germany, he did not win a single game. Then, in the Paris leg, he finished last in the standings.

Currently, he is competing in the Superbet Classic in Poland, which is part of the Grand Chess Tour. After seven rounds, he has 3.5 points and shares seventh place.

Critics Raise Questions

Due to these back-to-back setbacks, Gukesh now faces pressure. Some critics doubt if he truly deserves the title of world champion. Still, he will get another opportunity to prove himself in the upcoming Norway Chess tournament in Stavanger.

Clash With Carlsen Draws Attention

One of the highlights of the Norway Chess event will be his much-anticipated match against Magnus Carlsen. This contest between the reigning world champion and the world No. 1 in Classical chess has already drawn interest.

For Gukesh, this match could be his biggest yet. In fact, it might hold more weight than his world title battle against Ding Liren five months ago in Singapore.

Carlsen Not Keen on Classical Chess

Meanwhile, Carlsen has tried to reduce the hype around this match. In an interview with Take Take Take, he said, “Obviously I’ve played him in Freestyle but I know that that’s not his thing, at least so far.” Carlsen also added, “I think everybody has a lot of respect for him in Classical Chess,” but admitted that “I’m not motivated to play it. I don’t want to play it that often.”

He explained that Freestyle Chess is his focus now. “I think for him it’s different, it’s his main thing. So it’s kind of natural that we don’t clash that often,” Carlsen remarked.

It’s important to remember that Carlsen stepped away from defending his world title in 2022. As a result, Ding Liren got the chance to play and win the 2023 World Championship against Ian Nepomniachtchi.

Strong Line-up in Norway Chess

The 13th edition of Norway Chess will take place from 26 May to 6 June. Carlsen, who has won the tournament six times, will again play on home turf. This edition will feature the world’s top five players: Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura (No. 2), D Gukesh (No. 3), Arjun Erigaisi (No. 4), and Fabiano Caruana (No. 5).

Moreover, China’s Wei Yi, ranked No. 8, will also compete. With a total prize fund of $148,000, this event promises to be one of the strongest chess tournaments this year.