Stavanger, 2 June (H.S.): World Champion D Gukesh achieved a historic victory over World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in round six of Norway Chess in Stavanger, marking their first classical game win against him. Carlsen, visibly upset, reacted by banging on the board and awkwardly shaking hands with Gukesh after the game. In an attempt to regain composure, Carlsen rearranged the pieces scattered on the board, symbolizing his frustration. He even dropped his fallen King while trying to position it in the center, reflecting the irony of his pride leading to defeat.
Carlsen’s unusual blunder during the endgame allowed Gukesh to capitalize on the opportunity, despite Carlsen typically exhibiting machine-like precision. Gukesh commented, 99 out of 100 times, I would lose this game, but … lucky day, highlighting the fortunate circumstances that led to his victory, reminiscent of Ding Liren’s blunder in their World Chess Championship match last December.
Gukesh’s win also drew parallels to a significant moment in his chess journey, capturing a rook on ‘f2’ that had previously changed the course of the game against Ding. The moment occurred when Carlsen made a critical knight move, destabilizing his position and enabling Gukesh to secure a material advantage. Gukesh played accurately from that point, ultimately compelling Carlsen to resign on the 62nd move, solidifying his place as a formidable player and emulating his hero, Vishy Anand, as the youngest World Chess Champion.
Gukesh showcased remarkable resilience in his match against Carlsen during the World Championship. Despite being dominated for most of the game, Gukesh refused to resign, even as Carlsen taunted him in the endgame. Gukesh later acknowledged that he considered resigning at one point. The game saw Carlsen’s black King, initially inactive, venture up the board, moving from its corner to observe the unfolding battle. If the game had a different outcome, Carlsen’s King’s progression could have been regarded as epic. In a previous match, Gukesh missed a golden chance to beat Carlsen, which made his eventual victory even more significant. After surviving that scare, Carlsen expressed his confidence on social media, stating, You come at the King, you best not miss. This time, however, Gukesh didn’t aggressively pursue the King but strategically allowed it to come closer, ultimately leading to Carlsen’s downfall. Gukesh remarked about earning his first classical win against Carlsen, admitting it wasn’t the anticipated manner of victory but one he would gladly accept.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
