Gukesh would not miss whereas coming at ‘King’ Carlsen, justifies the ‘world champion’ tag with a efficiency of a lifetime

“Clearly, changing into the world champion doesn’t imply that I’m the most effective participant on the planet. Clearly, there’s Magnus”.

Regardless of fulfilling his childhood dream of changing into the
youngest world champion in chess historical past
on the tender age of 18, breaking the document that had beforehand been set by the legendary Garry Kasparov, there was part of Gukesh Dommaraju that wasn’t glad but.

And although Gukesh was overcome with emotion after his hard-fought victory over China’s Ding Liren within the best-of-14 collection in December, he couldn’t assist however announce his subsequent goal  – to problem and defeat Magnus Carlsen in Classical chess, the Norwegian Grandmaster who has been the world No 1 since 2011 and is taken into account one of many best of all time.

That chance lastly got here knocking six months after his epic conquer Ding, with Carlsen and Gukesh headlining the thirteenth version of the Norway Chess in Stavanger.

Gukesh had been having a largely underwhelming run in 2025; he started the 12 months on a excessive with a runner-up end at Tata Metal Chess however struggled to make an affect within the two Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour occasions which have taken place thus far in Weissenhaus and Paris.

Gukesh lastly exhibits Carlsen what he’s able to

His poor run within the Freestyle format appeared to have shaken his confidence within the Classical format as effectively, with the reigning world champion ending second-from-bottom on the Superbet Traditional in Romania, an occasion that was performed within the Normal format. As for the continuing event, Gukesh started his marketing campaign with back-to-back
defeats in opposition to Carlsen
and compatriot Arjun Erigaisi, at which level Gukesh’s critics have been starting to surprise if his World Championship triumph was one thing of a fluke or not.

Gukesh, nevertheless, proved that though he may nonetheless be a piece in progress in Freestyle Chess in addition to the quicker Speedy and Blitz codecs, he can’t be held down for too lengthy within the Classical format. And shortly sufficient, he bounced again with a victory over world No 2 Hikaru Nakamura in Spherical 3, adopted by an Armageddon win in opposition to Fabiano Caruana after holding the American Grandmaster to a stalemate.

And on Sunday, following a draw in opposition to Wei Yi, Gukesh discovered himself coming head to head with Carlsen for the second time within the ongoing occasion. The primary time he had come head to head with the world No 1 within the Classical format since his victory over Ding, Gukesh did put up a spirited battle solely to finish up dropping a thriller.

What made his victory in his second assembly with the defending champion and residential favorite even sweeter was the truth that Carlsen was truly bossing the sport at one level regardless of taking part in with black items, and was staring on the prospect of finishing a double in opposition to the Chennai lad, particularly after a queen change that was initiated within the twenty seventh transfer.

After a collection of exchanges that left each gamers with their rooks and a knight on the finish of the fortieth transfer, Gukesh started chasing his opponent’s king, which started to place Carlsen beneath stress and slowly began turning the tide in his favour. And repeated checks from Gukesh ultimately led to a blunder by Carlsen – within the 52nd transfer through which he selected to offer the white king a verify together with his knight (Ne2+).

Carlsen throws a match after being made to eat his phrases

And in the long run, Carlsen had all of two pawns left on the board when Gukesh boxed him right into a nook together with his knight and king, eliciting a annoyed response from the previous within the type of a
bang on the desk
that resulted within the items getting knocked round, which was shortly adopted by an apology and a pat on Gukesh’s again.

Very like his win in December, Gukesh refused to surrender regardless of discovering himself cornered, and it was his doggedness that helped him emerge triumphant.

That second when World Champion @DGukesh received his recreation in opposition to World no.1 Magnus Carlsen!

Video: @adityasurroy21/ ChessBase India#chess #chessbaseindia #norwaychess #gukesh pic.twitter.com/9YQhHYlia0

— ChessBase India (@ChessbaseIndia) June 1, 2025

It wasn’t too way back that Carlsen had put out a pompous assertion after beating Gukesh. “You come on the king, you finest not miss,” is the road from the favored HBO collection The Wire that the 34-year-old had mentioned after his victory in Spherical 1.

Gukesh, nevertheless, simply remained Gukesh after pulling off what arguably is the most important victory of his profession thus far. “99 out of 100 instances I’d lose. Only a fortunate day,” Gukesh, who had a glance of disbelief on his face after beating Carlsen, mentioned on Sunday.

The victory took Gukesh to the third spot on the standings after six rounds, and he may very effectively be within the operating for the highest spot ought to he accumulate one other Classical victory or two, together with in opposition to compatriot Arjun afterward Monday.

The importance of Gukesh’s newest efficiency, nevertheless, goes past the 2025 Norway Chess; for as soon as, Carlsen and the remainder of the chess world will lastly acknowledge that {the teenager} does belong amongst chess’ elite and that he’s deserving of the tag of ‘world champion’.

And this may simply make the rivalry between Gukesh and Carlsen, which was largely one-sided within the latter’s favour till, now, much more spicier contemplating the Indian nonetheless has a number of years forward of him.