On Sunday, June 1, at the Norway Chess 2025 tournament, 19-year-old Indian chess player D Gukesh earned his first classical-format win over world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen. The game, part of the ongoing round-robin event in Stavanger, saw Carlsen pressing with the white pieces for much of the match, but Gukesh held steady under pressure.
A classical format win in chess refers to a victory in a game with long time controls, allowing for deep strategy and calculation. It's considered the most prestigious format, as it tests a player's skill without the pressure of rapid or blitz time limits.
In the final stages, Carlsen made a misstep in a time scramble, and Gukesh responded accurately to convert the advantage. “There was not much I could do. I just had to make the most of it. I was making moves that were tricky for him, and luckily he got into a time scramble. One thing I’ve learned from this tournament is that time scrambles can get out of control,” Gukesh said after the match. He added, “Ninety-nine out of a hundred times, I would have lost. It’s a lucky day.”
Visibly frustrated, Carlsen slammed the chessboard and exited the arena swiftly.
Norway Chess is considered one of the top events in the chess world, bringing together leading male and female players in a six-player double round-robin format. The 2025 edition runs from May 26 to June 6.
(With IANS inputs)
