Gukesh Topples Carlsen in Round Six Clash
World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju defeated Magnus Carlsen in classical chess for the first time on Sunday in Stavanger. The dramatic sixth-round clash at Norway Chess 2025 saw the 19-year-old Indian grandmaster outmanoeuvre the former world champion in a gripping finale. The result shook the standings and ignited emotions rarely seen from the Norwegian.
Carlsen dominated most of the match but faltered during the final phase. Playing with a 10-second increment, the 34-year-old blundered under time pressure with 52…Ne2+??. Gukesh capitalised immediately, turning the game with precision and composure. Carlsen resigned soon after and slammed his fist on the table before storming out of the hall.
Magnus Carlsen punches the table in frustration after losing to world champion Gukesh Dommaraju for the first time in a classical game at #NorwayChess today. pic.twitter.com/z0fvYuJsY0
— Bryan Armen Graham (@BryanAGraham) June 1, 2025
World Champion Gains Confidence Boost
The win marked Gukesh’s first classical triumph over Carlsen and moved him to 8½ points. He now trails joint leaders Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana by just one point. Gukesh had entered the round with only one win in the tournament. The victory brought a timely boost to his confidence with four rounds remaining.
“Right now, what means the most to me is that I didn’t lose the game,” Gukesh said after the match. “But yes, beating Magnus in any form is special.”
Carlsen skipped post-match media duties and made no public comment. The typically composed Norwegian appeared visibly frustrated by the blunder and result. He had beaten Gukesh convincingly in their earlier round and looked poised to repeat that performance.
OH MY GOD 😳🤯😲 pic.twitter.com/QSbbrvQFkE
— Norway Chess (@NorwayChess) June 1, 2025
Coach Credits Gukesh’s Resilience
“Well, we could say it was lucky,” said Gukesh’s coach Grzegorz Gajewski. “But we have to give a lot of credit to Guki for his stubbornness and for his resourcefulness.”
Carlsen had posted “You come at the king, you best not miss” after their first game, referencing the teenager’s challenge. Sunday’s loss offered an answer to that post, as Gukesh kept his composure in the final minutes.
Gukesh became the youngest undisputed world champion in December 2024. He turned 19 last Thursday. His victory in Stavanger adds to a growing list of Indian breakthroughs at the tournament. Last year, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa became the first Indian to beat Carlsen in classical play in Norway.
Carlsen’s Record and Current Standing
Carlsen, ranked world number one for nearly 15 years, remains in contention with 9½ points. He holds the joint lead alongside Caruana. Carlsen cemented his legacy in 2021 with a dominant world championship defence against Ian Nepomniachtchi. He declined to defend the title in 2023, citing a lack of motivation.
Despite his loss to Gukesh, Carlsen remains a strong contender for the title in Stavanger. His recent form includes multiple victories, and he continues to set the benchmark in elite chess.
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Caruana Beats Nakamura in Armageddon
Elsewhere in round six, Fabiano Caruana edged past Hikaru Nakamura. Caruana claimed the Armageddon point with the black pieces after a draw in the classical game. Caruana’s result brought him level with Carlsen at the top of the standings. Both now hold 9½ points with four rounds left.
Arjun Erigaisi also claimed victory in Armageddon. He punished an early opening error from Wei Yi and secured the point with the white pieces. Erigaisi has shown steady form across both classical and rapid formats throughout the tournament.
Women’s Norway Chess Sees Shake-Up
In the Women’s Norway Chess 2025 section, Koneru Humpy suffered a critical setback. She blundered a rook in one move against Vaishali Rameshbabu and handed her opponent a crucial advantage.
Anna Muzychuk capitalised on Humpy’s mistake. She defeated Sara Khadem in Armageddon to catch Humpy at the top of the standings. Both now share the lead heading into the closing rounds.
GM Ju Wenjun extended her winning streak in Armageddon games to five. She edged out Lei Tingjie in a tense time scramble. Ju now sits just one point behind the joint leaders and remains a strong title contender.
Indian Players Continue Strong Showing
India’s young grandmasters have left a mark on Norway Chess 2025. Gukesh’s win over Carlsen follows Praggnanandhaa’s historic triumph last year. Vaishali and Erigaisi also secured key wins in their respective matches.
The tournament features top-tier classical and Armageddon games across both sections. With four rounds remaining, the standings remain close, and momentum continues to shift daily.
Gukesh’s breakthrough against Carlsen may redefine the tournament’s direction. As the final rounds approach, all eyes remain on Stavanger.
