How can Gukesh pip Magnus Carlsen to win Norway Chess 2025: Round 10 opponents, points system, scenarios explained
India's D Gukesh will look to claim his maiden Norway Chess title as the elite chess tournament heads into the final round on Friday in Stavanger, Norway.
Gukesh, the reigning world champion, is placed second on 14.5 points, while five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen is just half a point ahead in the six-player double round-robin tournament.
Who are Gukesh and Carlsen facing in the final round?
While Gukesh will be against the USA's Fabiano Caruana, Carlsen will take on India's Arjun Erigaisi.
Both Gukesh and Carlsen will wield black pieces.
What is the points system in Norway Chess 2025?
Norway Chess 2025 follows the Armageddon system, whereby if a classical game ends in a draw, an Armageddon game will be played to determine an outright winner.
Win in the classical game: 3 points
Loss in the classical game: 0 points
Draw in the classical game & win Armageddon: 1½ points
Draw in the classical game & loss Armageddon: 1 point
Armageddon in Norway Chess 2025
It shall start within 20 minutes of the conclusion of the classical game. The player with white pieces will continue with white in Armageddon. If the Armageddon game is drawn, black will win.
The time control for the Armageddon game: white has 10 minutes and black has 7 minutes with an increment for both players of 1 second per move, starting from move 41.
How can Gukesh overtake Carlsen?
Gukesh's fortunes depend not just on his outing against Caruana but also on how well his compatriot Erigaisi performs against Carlsen.
Here are the scenarios for Gukesh to win the title in Round 10:
Gukesh wins the classical game - Gukesh wins the title if Carlsen's match moves into an Armageddon game.
Gukesh wins in Armageddon - Gukesh wins the title only if Carlsen loses in the classical game.
Gukesh loses in Armageddon - Gukesh wins the title only if Carlsen loses in the classical game.
Gukesh loses to Caruana in classical game - Gukesh out of title race.
If Carlsen beats Erigaisi in the classical game, the Norwegian will win Norway Chess 2025, irrespective of what happens in the Gukesh vs Caruana game.
There is only one scenario where Gukesh and Carlsen will end tied on points - Gukesh wins in Armageddon and Carlsen loses in Armageddon.
It has to be noted that Caruana (12.5 points) and Hikaru Nakamura (13.0) are also mathematically in the race for the top spot. Anything less than a classical win will eliminate both the Americans from title contention.
What happens if two or more players end with the same points in the top spot?
If two players share the first place, there will be a Play-off to decide the winner. This will consist of a two-game blitz match with the time control of three minute with +2 sec. increment per move.
If this match ends in a tie, a further match will be played. If this match ends in a tie, there will be an Armageddon game where White has 10 minutes and Black, with draw odds, has seven minutes, both with an increment of one-second per move, starting from move 41.
If more than two players share first place, there will be a double round-robin tournament with the time control of three minute with +2 sec. increment per move.
In case of a tie between players in the double round-robin tournament, the classical games results will be used to resolve the tie.
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