In a monumental upset that sent ripples through the international chess community, Indian prodigy D Gukesh, the reigning world champion, secured his first-ever classical victory against the undisputed world number one, Magnus Carlsen, during Round 6 of the prestigious Norway Chess Tournament on Sunday. The win, a result of Carlsen’s uncharacteristic blunder in time trouble, has propelled the 19-year-old Gukesh to third position in the standings with 8.5 points, placing him tantalizingly close, just one point shy of joint leaders Carlsen and American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana.
The historic triumph was met with widespread jubilation in India, with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hailing Gukesh’s win as a “pivotal moment” for Indian chess. In a celebratory post on X, Sarma conveyed his immense pride, stating, “We are proud of you @DGukesh! Your taking down of Magnus Carlson at @NorwayChess was phenomenal, truly priceless! This is indeed a pivotal moment for Indian chess. Well done.”
The four-hour-long contest saw Carlsen in what appeared to be a commanding position for the majority of the game. However, a critical misstep by the Norwegian maestro during a crucial time scramble provided Gukesh with an opening to seize the initiative and ultimately secure a remarkable victory. Carlsen’s frustration was palpable, as he reportedly banged his fist on the table upon realizing his error, dishevelling the chessboard.
Speaking after the eagerly anticipated encounter, the usually reticent Chennai-lad offered a candid reflection on his win. “There wasn’t much I could do. It was just clearly lost (his position)…luckily he (Carlsen) got into a time scramble,” Gukesh admitted. He further added, “First Classical win over Magnus, not the way I expected (or) wanted it to be but I will take it. I was just trying to make moves (today) which kind of were tricky for him.” In a moment of humility, he later told tournament broadcasters, “…99 out of 100 times I would lose… just a lucky day.”
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