World Champion Dommaraju Gukesh secured a statement victory in the sixth round of Norway Chess 2025, defeating former world champion Magnus Carlsen in classical time control for the first time in his career. The Indian teenager, playing with the white pieces, seized a critical opportunity in the endgame after a rare blunder by the 34-year-old Norwegian Grandmaster, converting it into a memorable victory.
Carlsen, playing in front of a home crowd in Stavanger, appeared to have the upper hand for much of the game, pressing from a superior position. But Gukesh stood firm, defending with discipline and composure before capitalising on a rare misstep in the final stages. As Carlsen faltered under the tournament’s increment time control – designed to resemble rapid play – Gukesh launched a precise counterattack to turn the game on its head.
Carlsen appeared visibly devastated by the defeat, as the World No. 1 had often been critical of Gukesh’s classical game and his ability to maintain composure under increment time controls. After slamming the board in frustration, Carlsen was seen hastily leaving the competition venue and rushing into his car.
The win also came just days after Carlsen had convincingly outplayed Gukesh with the white pieces in Round 1. After that match, the Norwegian had posted a cryptic message on social media: “You come at the king, you best not miss” – widely interpreted by fans as a nod to his status as the reigning force in classical chess.
Carlsen had opted not to defend his World Championship crown after claiming his fifth title in 2025. He stepped back from classical chess for a period, and his clash against Gukesh at Norway Chess marked his first classical appearance since the Indian prodigy became the youngest world champion in history last year.
Elsewhere, it was a strong day for Indian chess as Arjun Erigaisi defeated Chinese Grandmaster Wei Yi, rounding off a successful round for the Indian contingent.
Prior to Round 6, Carlsen led the standings with 9.5 points, followed by Fabiano Caruana on 8 and Hikaru Nakamura on 6.5. Gukesh’s win has injected fresh momentum into the title race as the tournament moves into its closing stages.
