Kings reign supreme: Virat Kohli and Magnus Carlsen dominate their kingdoms
Yesterday was a day of undeniable supremacy for two reigning "Kings" in their respective domains: Cricket maestro Virat Kohli and chess phenomenon, Grandmaster and current World No. 1, Magnus Carlsen. Both athletes delivered stellar performances, solidifying their positions at the pinnacle of their sports and leaving their fans in awe.
RCB's aggressive play from ball 1 ensured they walked into the Finals of IPL 2025 with an eight-wicket victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Qualifier 1 in New Chandigarh. This commanding win secures RCB's highly anticipated spot in the IPL 2025 Final, their first since 2016 and fourth overall.
From the very first ball, Kohli's men were charged up. Opting to field on a spicy green track, RCB's bowlers, including a returning Josh Hazlewood and spinner Suyash Sharma, dismantled the PBKS batting lineup. Early wickets of the PBKS openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran set the tone, followed by single-digit scores from the middle order including captain Shreyas Iyer. PBKS with even an Impact Player substitution for IPL debutant Musheer Khan failed to provide respite. Hazlewood and Suyash Sharma were theaiming three crucial wickets, bundling out PBKS for 101.
The chase began with characteristic aggression from RCB openers Kohli and Phil Salt, motoring to 30 in the fourth over. While Kyle Jamieson briefly raised PBKS hopes by nipping out Kohli, Salt unleashed a stunning assault, smashing a quick-fire 50 off just 23 balls. Though Mayank Agarwal departed after a couple of boundaries, it was fittingly the regular RCB captain, back to full match fitness, who sealed the victory with a six at the end of the tenth over, underscoring the exceptional tournament he and RCB have had.
Also Read: Virat Kohli accidentally reveals why he retired from Test cricket during RCB's IPL Qualifier 1, fans agree
This marks RCB's fourth final appearance, a testament to their enduring presence in the league. Historically, the team winning Qualifier 1 has a strong record of clinching the IPL title, having done so in 11 of the 14 previous editions since 2011, including every edition from 2018 to 2024. This bodes well for Kohli and his Royal Challengers Bengaluru as they aim for their maiden IPL trophy.
Across the board, King Carlsen delivered a performance of near 100% accuracy against India's GM Arjun Erigaisi at Norway Chess 2025, a game that highlighted his unparalleled strategic depth and tactical precision.
Post-match, in a candid chat with GM Simon Williams, Carlsen reflected on his play: "There were a lot of forced moves, many moves kept the balance and I felt like I did more or less everything correct to put pressure on him and often people crack, and he did today.'
Having already defeated top Indian talents Gukesh and Arjun in the current event, Carlsen noted the element of chance in his wins but reiterated his overall goal: "It's a little bit random that I happen to have beaten Gukesh and Arjun so far, seeing that I've really had pressure against everybody, but still, I'm kind of trying to beat them all! I think you could see certainly inexperience in his defense today, which worked out in my favor.'
When asked for advice on overcoming a bad patch, the Mozart of Chess offered practical wisdom: 'Well it depends. If you feel like generally, your game is okay… Then it's not a problem at all. If not then, it's hard. I usually need something positive to happen to break out of it.'
Magnus Carlsen, playing the English Opening, was happy with the outcome against Arjun, despite initially feeling indecisive and "burning time." He later explained this hesitation was due to an unfamiliar position, but his clarity quickly returned, leading to a crucial pawn gain. Magnus Carlsen observed Arjun's dilemma perfectly: "You get presented with more and more difficult choices and eventually you go wrong." He even accurately predicted the moment of Arjun's decisive error, observing him ponder for 15 minutes on move 30. Carlsen explained that 30...Qe7, leading to a queen swap, would have been a draw, but Arjun's choice of 30...Re6 to trade rooks proved fatal.
This stellar performance has propelled Carlsen to the top of the Norway Chess 2025 leaderboard with two wins and two draws (including two Armageddon losses). Fabiano Caruana follows him at number two, World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura at three, World Champion D. Gukesh at fourth, and Arjun Erigaisi at fifth.
The chess world eagerly awaits Round 5, which features a thrilling clash between Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana, the current Norway Chess No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. Arjun will face Hikaru, while Wei Yi, who recently defeated Carlsen in Armageddon, will play Gukesh tomorrow.
Yesterday truly belonged to the Kings, Virat Kohli and Magnus Carlsen, who continue to redefine excellence in their respective fields.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
Dinesh Karthik will be unbearable if RCB win IPL 2025 title: Naseer Hussain
Nasser Hussain joked that Dinesh Karthik would be unbearable if RCB won the IPL 2025 in his first year as the side's mentor. Karthik, who retired from the IPL last season, was appointed before the 2025 campaign. He played a big role in helping the think tank assemble the team during the IPL 2025 auction. The inputs from the former India wicketkeeper played a vital role in Bengaluru's phenomenal 2025 campaign as they made it to the final by winning Qualifier 1 against PBKS. Speaking on the Sky Sports podcast, Hussain, who works alongside Karthik in the commentary box, said that the former wicketkeeper will be unbearable if RCB win the title. advertisementMichael Atherton also chimed in and said that Karthik will act like John Terry after the 2012 Champions League final and will be at the front of the trophy celebrations. 'RCB have got through to the finals. If they win that, DK is going to be unbearable. One season as coach/mentor and he's won it,' Hussain said in jest on the Sky Sports Podcast in a humorous tone. 'He's unbearable at the best of times, he's going to be doubly unbearable. He'll be like John Terry, at the front of the RCB trophy presentation holding it there with Virat Kohli,' Michael Atherton Karthik said about being part of RCBKarthik said that it is a very special feeling to be part of RCB. The RCB batting mentor said that winning the first IPL title for the franchise was one of the main reasons why he decided to join the side. advertisement"Being part of RCB is a very special feeling. Purely because of the brand of cricket that we play, but also the fans that we have. And most importantly, it's a journey that's been filled with lots of highs and lows. But the trophy hadn't reached the shores of Bangalore yet. If I could be part of that journey, why not? That was a big question in my mind. I know how close we were when I played. So here's another opportunity for me as a coach," said Karthik. RCB will face the winner of the Qualifier 2 between PBKS and MI in Ahmedabad on June 3. Trending Reel IN THIS STORY#IPL 2025
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Virat gesture brings smile to face of multi-disabled teen artist
1 2 3 4 5 6 Lucknow: In a heartwarming moment, cricket icon Virat Kohli signed a portrait of himself painted by a 14-year-old orphan boy suffering with multi-disability including cerebral palsy. The portrait was presented to Kohli by the boy, Arun, at Ekana Stadium where multi-disabled children from Drishti Samajik Sansthan were invited to watch a cricket practice session and meet their sporting heroes. Abandoned in early childhood, Arun was taken in by the NGO in 2016-17. He had severe muscular issues, minimal mobility, and both hearing and speech impairments. Over the years, with intensive physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech support, his mobility and communication improved significantly. He now walks independently and communicates through Indian sign language and speaks a few words. Arun's transformation also included the discovery of a deep passion for art. What began with basic tracing exercises grew into a remarkable talent for sketching expressive portraits. Despite muscular challenges that make fine motor work difficult, Arun patiently completes detailed drawings — each taking over a week. His subjects range from family and caregivers to public figures he admires. Ahead of the stadium visit, Arun made a portrait of Kohli, hoping to have it signed. Although Kohli could not attend the practice session, team officials promised to arrange the autograph. True to their word, the portrait — signed by Kohli — was recently handed over to Arun. Director of Drishti Samajik Sansthan, Shalu Singh, said: "Arun came to us from Meerut about seven years ago, abandoned and severely affected by cerebral palsy. With consistent therapy and encouragement, he made incredible progress, both physically and artistically. His journey is truly inspiring." This visit to the stadium marked Arun's first time experiencing a live sports venue — something he had only seen on television. The event highlighted the power of sport to uplift and connect, transcending physical and social barriers.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
IPL rush bowls over Ahmedabad's hotels, eateries
Ahmedabad: The city's hospitality scene is hitting shots out of the boundaries, thanks to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 fever gripping the city. With two high-voltage matches — the Eliminator clash between Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians on Sunday and the grand finale on June 3 — lined up at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera, hotels and food & beverage businesses are enjoying a summer surge. Traditionally, May and June are considered off-season months, when scorching heat keeps footfalls low and occupancy rates dip. But this year, the buzz around IPL has turned what is usually a lean period into a business bonanza. "The excitement surrounding IPL 2025 leads to a noticeable surge in cricket enthusiasts travelling to Ahmedabad. Almost all hotels are seeing high occupancies. We have guests — from teams and fans to corporate delegations — coming from across the country this season," said Keenan McKenzie, cluster general manager, ITC Narmada. Hotel occupancy across all segments, from luxury to budget, has climbed above 85%. IPL-driven traffic is not only checking in but also indulging in premium services and IPL-themed culinary experiences. Hoteliers report a strong demand for curated late-night menus, in-room dining, and special fan engagement events. "After the usual lull in May, IPL has brought back a tremendous sense of momentum," said Puneet Baijal, general manager, Hyatt Regency Ahmedabad. "Occupancy is seeing a sharp uptick, with a diverse range of guests, including solo travelers, large groups of fans, families, and corporate contingents, coming in from all over the country," he explained. Restaurants and cafes, too, are cashing in on the cricketing carnival, rolling out live match screenings, themed menus, and match-hour deals — both in-house and through delivery platforms. Several outlets report a 40–50% surge in footfalls on match days, driven largely by the city's youth eager to soak in the stadium-like atmosphere. The trend reflects the impact of sports tourism seen in the city to attract both local patrons and out-of-town visitors. Vikas Sood, general manager, The Leela Gandhinagar and Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre, explains, "Sports tourism is clearly emerging as a powerful driver for the hospitality sector in Ahmedabad, and events like these help hotels bounce back during the summer months. The trend is common in several developed economies. During events like IPL, the benefit is not limited to the hospitality sector alone but extends to F&B, fitness and wellness, and transport businesses, which is seen in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. IPL 2025 is a precursor to several bigger sporting events taking place here." For Ahmedabad, which has been steadily building its profile as a sporting destination, events like these are proving to be economic lifelines for local businesses during an otherwise dull period.
