Gukesh Lands In Norway Ahead Of 'Fun Challenge' Against Magnus Carlsen
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Gukesh will take on World No.1 Carlsen in the classical format for the first time since his crowning moment at the World Championships against Ding Liren.
Indian Chess wizard D Gukesh landed in Stavanger ahead of his highly anticipated Norway Chess 2025 event slated to get underway on the 26th of May at the Sparebank 1 Sor-Norge headquarters.
The youngest World Champion, Gukesh, will take on World No.1 Magnus Carlsen in the classical format at the event for the first time since his crowning moment at the Worlds against Ding Liren.
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'I feel great being here. I've had good memories from Norway," Gukesh said.
'I am sure playing Magnus here in a classical game will be a fun challenge. Also, for the spectators, it is about the world champion versus the No.1 player in the world," he added.
'It surely sounds very exciting so it's surely something I am very happy to give, myself and the chess fans. And I hope it will be a treat," the teenager continued.
advetisement
In 2023, Gukesh competed in Norway Chess, finishing third and earning vital FIDE Circuit points that qualified him for the 2024 Candidates Tournament. This achievement made him the third-youngest player in history to qualify for a Candidates Tournament, following Bobby Fischer and Magnus Carlsen.
By August 2023, Gukesh set another record by becoming the youngest player ever to attain a rating of 2750. In September 2023, he surpassed Viswanathan Anand to become India's top-ranked player, a title Anand had held for 37 years. Gukesh started 2024 strongly, winning the Tata Steel Masters in January and dominating the Candidates Tournament to secure his place in the World Chess Championship match. At the Olympiad, he led Team India to gold and earned an individual gold medal on board one with an outstanding performance.
Regarding the expectations after his recent success, Gukesh remarked, 'It is a new level. But when I see it as a challenge to prove to myself that I can handle this. Even though the expectations are high, I can meet them if I keep working hard and doing my best."
Gukesh also discussed the challenges of a classical game, highlighting the importance of managing one's thoughts. 'In a classical game, you end up playing for five hours, and during those times, you cannot constantly think about the game. Random thoughts will come to mind, but it's crucial to stay focused on the game and revisit those thoughts later. This is why you take notes. You can't afford weak moments," he explained.
The draw for Norway Chess 2025 and Norway Chess Women 2025 will be held later today.
India's Arjun Erigaisi will participate in Norway Chess, which will feature a strong line-up, including Hikaru Nakamura (USA), Fabiano Caruana (USA), and Wei Yi (China). In Norway Chess Women 2025, Ju Wenjun (China), Lei Tingjie (China), Koneru Humpy (India), Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine), Vaishali R (India), and Sarasadat Khademalsharieh (Spain) will compete for top honors.
Location :
Norway
First Published:
May 25, 2025, 15:39 IST
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