Gukesh Shocks Carlsen in Stunning Turnaround at Norway Chess 2025
So, I’ve just watched what might go down as one of the most shocking and emotional moments in recent chess history—Magnus Carlsen losing to Gukesh Dommaraju in Round 6 of Norway Chess 2025. And not just losing. We're talking about a painful collapse, from a completely winning position, against a player who had never beaten him in classical play before. It was brutal, it was brilliant, and it was unforgettable.
To set the stage, Carlsen had dominated their first encounter in this double round-robin, and this second game seemed to be following the same script. By the 19th move, Carlsen was confident—he’d even said in the post-game commentary, “I just have excellent play.” And the stats backed it: 98.7% accuracy. That’s near-perfect chess. Gukesh was on the ropes for most of the game, openly admitting afterward, “99 out of 100 times, I would lose.”
But chess isn’t won on paper. It’s won on the board—often in the tiniest moments under pressure. And that’s exactly where this game turned into a thriller. Magnus began to lose control during a tense time scramble, particularly after the move 44...f6, which objectively started unraveling his winning edge. Gukesh kept hanging in there, making the only moves that kept the game alive.
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Then came the collapse. Carlsen blundered. Not just a small mistake—a full-on tactical meltdown. Suddenly, Gukesh had a winning position. From being all but lost, he was now pushing to win. And the moment Carlsen realized it… he slammed his fist on the table. The pieces rattled. The crowd gasped. The five-time world champion had cracked, visibly, emotionally. Seconds later, he walked out without saying a word to the press. It was raw, real, and rare.
Gukesh? He looked stunned. Even after winning, he admitted, “Not the way I wanted to beat Magnus, but I’ll take it.” And rightly so. A win is a win—and this one was historic. Not only did he score his first classical victory over Magnus, but he also reminded the chess world that even the greats can bleed under pressure.
With that single victory, the standings have been shaken up. What once looked like Carlsen running away with the tournament is now a wide-open race. Caruana is right back in it. Gukesh is only a point behind. The chase is on.
And you know what? Beyond the result, beyond the shock, this game reminded us why we love chess. The drama. The unpredictability. The sheer tension of a time scramble between giants. One moment you’re watching a masterclass, the next, a collapse. Carlsen showed us his brilliance—and his humanity. Gukesh showed us grit, tenacity, and the power of never giving up.
I can't wait to see how the rest of Norway Chess unfolds. If this was the “Turnaround of the Year,” as GM Howell put it, who knows what drama lies ahead in the next rounds? One thing’s for sure: Carlsen vs. Nakamura in Round 7 is now must-watch chess. Will Magnus bounce back like a wounded lion—or is Gukesh’s win the spark that changes everything?
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