D Gukesh shocked the chess world by defeating World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in Round 6 of Norway Chess 2025 on Sunday. The classical game lasted 62 moves and over four hours. Despite being in a losing position, Gukesh turned the tables with sharp play and incredible focus.
Carlsen Reacts with Visible Frustration
After the loss, Carlsen slammed the table in anger. However, he still shook Gukesh’s hand and even patted his back while leaving. Gukesh, stunned by his win, stood up quietly as the moment sank in.
Magnus Carlsen just lost a classical game to 19-year-old D Gukesh at Norway Chess. He dominated most of the match but blundered under time pressure. After resigning, he slammed the table and knocked over pieces. Gukesh kept his cool and now sits just one point behind the leaders. pic.twitter.com/myWMJFSmrg
— Fitumi (@TheRealFitumi) June 2, 2025
Carlsen Shares His Disappointment
In an interview with TV 2 Sport, Carlsen admitted that he no longer enjoys classical chess, saying he is “just don’t think it’s fun to play anymore.” He added that “I’m sitting there in the middle of the game, thinking that I have the same position as I had so many times. It’s just moving slowly.”
Furthermore, Carlsen said, “It is satisfying to play well, but then I collapsed towards the end, and showed great weaknesses.” He also gave credit to his opponent, saying, “Gukesh fights really well.”
Gukesh Secures His First Classical Win Over Carlsen
This victory marked Gukesh’s first-ever classical win against Carlsen. Although the odds were against him, he kept pushing. He took advantage of Carlsen’s time pressure and held his nerve till the end.
Gukesh Reflects on His Strategy
Speaking to Chess24 after the game, Gukesh explained that “I was just trying to play moves that were tricky for him.” He said his win came because “luckily he got into time scramble.” He also admitted, “One thing I learnt from this tournament is that time scrambles can get too much out of control.”
With humility, Gukesh added, “99 out of 100 times I would lose. Just a lucky day.”
A Meaningful Victory
Although Carlsen has stepped away from the FIDE World Championship cycle, Gukesh’s victory was still a huge moment. Beating the world’s top-rated player added significant weight to his career and confidence.