Moment 'world's greatest' chess player loses his composure and slams his fist into the table after losing game

Daily Mail​

2 days ago

A seething Magnus Carlsen pounded his fist on the table after losing his first game of chess to an Indian world champion.
The Norwegian grandmaster was unable to contain his anger during the classical game on Sunday June 1 in Stavanger.
Startling footage shows the 34-year-old cause the entire table to shake as he unleashes a loud thud when faced with the victory of his opponent.
A defeated Carlsen, dressed in blue jeans and a white shirt, then immediately apologises and shakes his rival Gukesh Donmaraju's hand.
But a few seconds later he exclaims 'Oh my god!' while an emotional looking Donmaraju paces down the room with his hand covering his mouth.
Carlsen pats the 19-year-old Indian chess grandmaster on the back before storming out.
The tension comes as Carlsen had had his opponent on the ropes for much of the match in the Norway Chess 2025 tournament.
But his composure cracked under the pressure of a ticking clock and he committed a blunder that handed Gukesh a decisive advantage.
Startling footage shows the 34-year-old cause the entire table to shake as he unleashes a loud thud when faced with the victory of his opponent
Speaking to Chess.com, Gukesh said: 'I mean, (the win was) not the way I wanted it to be, but okay, I'll take it.
'... I've also banged a lot of tables in my career.'
Carlsen remained top of the standings after the defeat.
It is not the first time a chess tournament has caused him anger. In December 2024 Carlsen quit a major championship after being told he could not participate while wearing jeans.
The Norwegian was defending his World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in New York when governing body FIDE made the request.
He said he offered to change his trousers for the following day before being fined and told he needed to change straight away.
Carlsen pulled out of the championships with the chess governing body issuing him a $200 fine after giving him an opportunity to change into the correct attire, which the rejected.
However, after being told he would not be allowed to continue, he reportedly responded 'I'm out, f*** you'.
Carlsen, world champion between 2013 and 2023, said he had a lunch meeting before the round and had to change quickly.
'I put on a shirt, jacket and honestly like I didn't even think about jeans, even changed my shoes,' Carlsen told Take Take Take, an app for following chess.
'I didn't even think about it. First of all, I got a fine which is fine, and then I got a warning that I would not be paired if I didn't go change my clothes. They said that I could do it after the third round today.
'I said "I'll change tomorrow if that's OK, I didn't even realise it today", but they said, "well you have to change now". At that point it became a bit of a matter of principle for me.'
The 34-year-old added he would not appeal the decision, saying: 'Honestly, I am too old at this point to care too much.
'If this is what they want to do. I guess it goes both ways, right.
'Nobody wants to back down and this is where we are. It's fine by me. I'll probably head off to somewhere where the weather is a bit nicer than here.'
The Norway Chess tournament began on May 26 and will conclude on June 6. It features an approximately £109,204 cash prize.