Magnus Carlsen had to swallow his words at the Grand Chess Tour 2025, after suffering a stinging defeat at the hands of D Gukesh in their Round 6 encounter. Going into the game without much fanfare about Gukesh’s credentials especially in the rapid and blitz settings Carlsen’s young Indian opponent gave the perfect answer on the board.
The match began with a burst of energy, with both sides quickly reciting their opening moves. Carlsen went with the English Opening, attempting to surprise Gukesh. It seemed early on that the Norwegian was favored, but a turning point occurred on move 23 when Carlsen moved his b-pawn, a move that reversed the situation in Gukesh’s favor.
Subsequent to the game, a much more subdued Carlsen credited Gukesh with playing very well and rare complimentary remarks for the 18-year-old, retreating from his previous statements. Gukesh, as ever humble, minimized the win but recognized it as a boost to his confidence.
“Yeah, he’s doing incredibly well. incredibly well now. So, you know, it’s a long way to go in the tournament, but, you know, winning five games in a row is no mean feat.” Magnus Carlsen mentioned speaking to Take Take Take
“Honestly, I am not enjoying playing chess at all right now. I don’t feel any flow at all when I’m playing. I’m constantly constantly hesitating and it’s just really poor right now,” he added.
This is not the first time Gukesh defeated the world number one in recent times. Earlier in the 2025 Norway Chess tournament, he had already beaten Carlsen at classical chess, after a dramatic mistake on the part of the former champion that culminated in him slamming the table in frustration.
With two more encounters between the two scheduled in the blitz rounds, everyone’s eyes will be on whether Carlsen will fight back or Gukesh will go on to emphasize his increasing supremacy.
