Sports: World Champion D Gukesh, celebrating his 19th birthday, clinched a vital victory against World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura in the third round of Norway Chess 2025 on Thursday. This much-needed triumph marks his first points in the tournament, coming after two consecutive losses that had placed him at the bottom of the leaderboard.
The win signals a significant turnaround for the young prodigy, who had endured a challenging start, falling to both Magnus Carlsen and compatriot Arjun Erigaisi in the initial rounds. His previous struggles had raised eyebrows, especially for the reigning world champion.
“I feel quite good! I think my time management was much better today than before. He had some drawing chances, but I guess overall it was a good game,” Gukesh shared in a video released by Norway Chess, exuding a sense of relief and satisfaction.
This crucial result brings a halt to a difficult patch for Gukesh and infuses renewed momentum as the prestigious event moves forward. When quizzed about the potential for Armageddon tie-breakers later in the tournament, Gukesh calmly stated, “Yeah, I mean, at some point it will come for sure. But right now, I’m just happy with this.”
Earlier in the week, Gukesh faced a setback against fellow Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi, who extended his impeccable classical record against Gukesh to a commanding 6-0. Erigaisi’s win, achieved in 62 moves, propelled him into joint leadership alongside Nakamura after the American’s Armageddon victory over Carlsen in Round 2.
Having entered the tournament as the reigning world champion, Gukesh’s initial struggles to find his rhythm were noticeable. However, Thursday’s birthday win not only breaks his losing streak but also firmly puts him back in contention as the six-player round-robin tournament approaches its midpoint.
With a tightly packed leaderboard and an array of high-stakes games still on the horizon, the pressure remains palpable. Yet, for D Gukesh, this timely victory on his birthday could very well be the pivotal turning point he desperately needed in what promises to be an enthralling Norway Chess.
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