Unlikely Victory: Gukesh Breaks Through Against Carlsen
Chess doesn’t get much more dramatic than what happened in the 6th round of Norway Chess 2025. Indian teenager D Gukesh pulled off an upset that sent shockwaves through the chess world. His opponent? None other than Magnus Carlsen, the star who’s been the face of chess for over a decade. For Gukesh, getting a classical win over Carlsen on this stage seemed almost impossible—until the stars aligned in a way only chess can deliver.
The game started much as you’d expect. Carlsen built up a textbook advantage and had both a better position and extra time on the clock. The Norwegian ace looked set to cruise to another victory. But then, time pressure hit, and something unusual happened: Carlsen miscalculated in the endgame, letting victory slip, and Gukesh pounced on the chance. If you watched live, you could almost feel the air getting sucked out of the room when Carlsen blundered; his reaction told the whole story as he slammed his fist on the board in frustration.
Luck, Persistence, and Changing Fortunes
After the dust settled, Gukesh didn’t pretend to be a chess wizard. Instead, he called it honestly: “99 times out of 100, I’d have lost this game. It was my lucky day.” You don’t often hear this level of humility after beating a legend. His coach, Grandmaster Vishnu Prasanna, didn’t sugarcoat things either. He praised Gukesh for simply never giving up—even when the position looked hopeless. Holding on, making moves, and just staying at the table can sometimes be enough if your opponent slips under pressure.
For Carlsen, the error was completely out of character. Commentators and experts, including former women’s world champion Susan Polgar, described the blunder as among the most painful losses of his career. It wasn’t just the upset—they pointed out how clinical Carlsen usually is in converting winning positions. This rare loss added layers of unpredictability to the tournament and got chess fans everywhere talking. It was the kind of mistake you almost never see at this level, making it all the more memorable.
Gukesh’s win shot him up to third place in the standings with 8.5 points. For a brief moment, he was right in the thick of the title race with both Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana just one point ahead. The competition heated up rapidly after this surprise result, especially as the event neared its close. While Gukesh’s run didn’t last all the way through—he struggled in the final round as Carlsen eventually claimed his seventh Norway Chess crown—that single victory over Carlsen gave fans a story to remember. Sometimes in chess, all it takes is a bit of luck and holding your nerve—especially when you’re playing giants.