New Delhi: Indian chess prodigy and reigning World Champion D Gukesh broke his silence after pulling off a sensational win over former world number one Magnus Carlsen in Round 6 of the ongoing Norway Chess 2025 tournament. The 19-year-old not only marked his first-ever classical win against the Norwegian grandmaster but also became just the second Indian player to defeat Carlsen in the tournament’s history, after R Praggnanandhaa.
Gukesh staged a remarkable comeback in the game, recovering from a losing position to shock Carlsen. Despite the magnitude of the victory, Gukesh remained grounded, saying, “I mean, [it was] not the way I wanted it to be, but okay, I will take it,” as quoted by Chess.com.
After the loss, Carlsen visibly expressed his frustration, banging the table and causing some chess pieces to fall to the floor — a moment that was captured on video and shared on Norway Chess’s official social media. Still, Carlsen maintained sportsmanship, shaking Gukesh’s hand and offering a pat on the back.
Addressing the incident, Gukesh responded with empathy and good humor: “I have also banged a lot of tables in my career,” indicating his understanding of the intense emotions at play in high-level chess.
The Indian star admitted he was still in disbelief over how the match unfolded. “99 out of 100 times I would lose,” he said. “It was just a lucky day.”
Carlsen had maintained control for most of the game, but as time pressure mounted, Gukesh held his ground and capitalized on late errors, ultimately turning the tables. The win boosted Gukesh to third place in the tournament standings with 8.5 points, just one point behind Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana.
This encounter came shortly after their high-profile clash in Round 1 on May 27, where Carlsen had emerged victorious with a brilliant king hunt. That match had been Carlsen’s return to classical chess after nearly a year and the first meeting between the two since Gukesh claimed the world title.
Gukesh’s coach, Grandmaster Vishnu Prasanna, praised his student’s grit and fighting spirit. “You have to give a lot of credit to Gukesh for his stubbornness and resourcefulness. He knew he was lost for a long time, but he kept fighting. As the time ticked down, his chances improved. I don’t think he intended to win it, but I’m sure he’s happy,” said Prasanna.
The thrilling victory not only demonstrated Gukesh’s resilience but also underlined his place among the elite in world chess, showing once again why he’s a force to be reckoned with.
