‘Magnus wished to show that Gukesh was not as robust as others’: Fabiano Caruana makes sensational claims

Fabiano Caruana believes world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen had further motivation behind his want to beat world champion D Gukesh at Norway Chess 2025. He feels, Magnus wished to beat Gukesh — not simply to show he’s nonetheless the higher participant, but in addition to indicate that the 19-year-old Indian isn’t the very best on the planet proper now.

But when that was the plan, it clearly backfired as Carlsen gained the opening match towards Gukesh at Norway Chess however misplaced the second, his first in classical chess towards the world champion. The video of the indignant fist smash by Carlsen after dropping his first-ever match to Gukesh had
change into a worldwide rage
.

5-time world champion Carlsen’s response underlined his disappointment at dropping to Gukesh as he had celebrated his first-round win over the Indian with a well-known quote from an HBO sequence, The Wire, declaring himself because the
‘king’ of the chess world
.

It have to be famous that this was Carlsen’s first assembly with Gukesh in classical chess since he turned the world champion.

‘Magnus wished to dominate Gukesh’

Reflecting on Carlsen’s dedication to beat Gukesh, American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana, who got here second on the Norway Chess 2025 behind the Norwegian, stated that Carlsen wished to dominate Gukesh on the match to show a degree.

“Magnus undoubtedly wished to win (towards Gukesh) to show a degree: the purpose being that not solely is he (Gukesh) not practically as robust as Magnus but in addition that he’s not as robust as different gamers. I believe that may be his level, that’s what he was attempting to go for. So I believe Magnus wished to dominate. And I don’t assume he cared as a lot if he have been to dominate Arjun (Erigaisi) for instance,” Caruana stated on the C Squared Podcast.

“Gukesh is a world champion. In order that carries a bit extra weight. There was additionally Wei Yi, who’s an ideal participant. But it surely doesn’t really feel like Magnus has something that he has presumably to show towards Wei Yi or towards me. Perhaps towards Hikaru (Nakamura) and me he would really feel like this can be a very nice recreation to win,” added Caruana, who defeated Gukesh within the final spherical to assist Carlsen win his dwelling match.

For these hoping to see extra of Carlsen vs Gukesh, it’s value noting that the previous world champion—who gave up his title in 2022—hardly ever performs classical chess lately. We might have to attend till Norway Chess 2026 for a rematch on this format.