D Gukesh Scores Historic First Classical Win Over Magnus Carlsen in Norway Chess 2025, Climbs to Third Place
In a landmark moment for Indian chess, reigning world champion Dommaraju Gukesh finally achieved what many rising stars have aspired to — defeating Magnus Carlsen, the top-ranked player in the world, in a classical chess game.
This much-anticipated breakthrough came in Round 6 of the prestigious Norway Chess 2025 tournament, held on Sunday.
The 19-year-old Indian prodigy’s triumph is particularly significant as it marked his first-ever victory over Carlsen in classical format, considered the gold standard of competitive chess.
The win is also seen as a form of personal redemption for Gukesh, who had suffered a stinging defeat at the hands of Carlsen in the very first round of this same tournament — a loss that had temporarily dented his momentum.
But Sunday’s game witnessed a dramatic reversal of fortunes. In what turned into an intense four-hour showdown, stretching across 62 complex moves, Gukesh not only held his ground but managed to claw his way back from a seemingly inferior position.
As the tension mounted and most observers expected the Norwegian grandmaster to once again assert his dominance, it was Gukesh who turned the tide with a series of precise and bold moves that left Carlsen unsettled.
This gripping contest between the two giants of modern chess ended with Gukesh earning the full three points, under the tournament’s scoring system.
The victory catapulted him to third position on the leaderboard, where he now stands at 8.5 points, just one point behind both Carlsen and American GM Fabiano Caruana, who are jointly leading the standings.
Though Gukesh chose not to speak to the media after his landmark win, his coach, Polish grandmaster and strategist Grzegorz Gajewski, shared valuable insights into the emotional and psychological weight of this victory.
Speaking on behalf of his student, Gajewski described the win as a “huge pump of confidence” that would serve not only Gukesh in the immediate rounds ahead but also in future battles with Carlsen and other elite players.
“This kind of win changes something mentally,” said Gajewski. “Once you’ve done it, you realize it’s not an impossible task. It breaks a mental barrier.
And once that happens, you start believing — not just in your talent, but in your ability to win against the very best, even when things don’t look promising.”
Gajewski also emphasized that Gukesh’s victory could have a ripple effect across the Indian chess ecosystem, potentially inspiring other young Indian talents to believe that Carlsen is beatable.
“Yes, I think other Indian players will take a lot of confidence from this. It sends a message: it can be done,” he added.
Beyond personal vindication and psychological gain, the win also carries huge strategic implications for the ongoing tournament. With three rounds to go, Gukesh is now very much in contention for the title.
“Hopefully we can break another unbreakable margin,” Gajewski remarked, expressing cautious optimism.
The broader chess world has been closely watching Gukesh’s rise.
Just days ago, he turned 19, and yet he has already inscribed his name in the annals of chess history by becoming the youngest-ever player to win the World Chess Championship earlier this year.
Sunday’s victory over Carlsen adds another glittering milestone to a career already considered legendary in the making.
Carlsen, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in chess history and a five-time world champion, had up until now maintained an upper hand over Gukesh in classical encounters.
His defeat on Sunday thus marks a symbolic moment, perhaps signaling the beginning of a new competitive dynamic between the former and current world champions.
As Norway Chess 2025 enters its final stages, the anticipation only grows.
With Gukesh riding high on confidence and closing in on the leaders, and with every top-tier player still facing intense tests, fans and experts alike are in for a thrilling finish to what has already been a tournament for the ages.
