Latest news with #Candidates
NBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- NBC News
A move and a bang: Magnus Carlsen drops his first match against India's chess champion
It was the fist slam heard 'round the chess world. Two of the titans of chess — one, the up-and-coming champion versus arguably the greatest player of all time — squared off over the weekend in a game that has drawn attention not just for its result but for the post-game reaction. Magnus Carlsen, the top-ranked chess player in the world, lost for the first time in the classical (think long, complex games) format to Gukesh Dommaraju, the current world champion who at 19 years old is seen as among the game's brightest young stars. The game, which came as part of the Norway Chess 2025 tournament, swung after Carlsen lost a knight, leading to a frantic endgame in which each player had only seconds left on their clocks. With Gukesh in a clearly winning position, Carlsen expressed his frustration in a manner relatable to most anyone who has ever played chess: With a fist to the table. Carlsen then offered a handshake of resignation before standing up and offering another relatable exasperation: "Oh my god," along with an apology. While the game probably wouldn't have made the same waves without Carlsen's reaction, the loss does offer a growing sense of Gukesh's rise. But it also offers some sense of just how dominant Carlsen remains at the age of 34. In an interview immediately after the match, Gukesh detailed his shock at winning the game, which at one point looked hopeless for him. "There wasn't much I could do," he said. "It was just clearly lost, so I was just trying to make moves which were tricky for him, and luckly he got into time scramble." "99 out of 100 times I would lose," Gukesh added. Others in the chess community offered a bit more support for Gukesh's performance. Gukesh also reportedly told that he could relate to Carlsen's reaction: 'I've also banged a lot of tables in my career!' Carlsen retains his title as the top-ranked player by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), which calculates ratings based on performances across sanctioned tournaments. Carlsen is also a five-time world chess champion, a title awarded for winning the game's most presitigious tournament (The Candidates Tournament) and besting the current world champion (or with the current champion beating the winner of the Candidates). Carlsen declined to defend the title in 2022, with China's Ding Liren taking the top spot only to be defeated by Gukesh in 2024. Then only 18, Gukesh became the youngest world champion in history. That has meant something of a natural rivarly between the two. Carlsen has previously praised the Indian phenom, noting recently in an appearance on the podcast The Joe Rogan Experience that Gukesh "works his a-- off all time time" but also is not as strong as some of the shorter time formats that have gained in popularity and prestige in recent years. Along with the embrace of shorter time formats, chess has boomed online, with a boom in coverage and content creators who analyze games in real time and provide plenty of commentary. And with Carlsen still by far the game's top star, a blunder and loss — and reaction — like the one to Gukesh has sparked its own compilations of reactions.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Gukesh's coach says teen had heard comments that he was world champion only because Magnus Carlsen didn't play
Over the past five months since Gukesh became the youngest world champion in chess history after defeating Ding Liren in Singapore, the Indian teenager and his team have tried their best to block out the disparaging chatter questioning his legitimacy as a world champion. With Magnus Carlsen, the greatest player of this generation, abdicating the world champion's throne in 2023 without a pawn marching down the battlefield of 64 squares, Ding Liren took the crown after wrestling it away from Ian Nepomniachtchi. Ding later lost the crown to Gukesh at last year's world chess championship. But the 'what ifs' regarding Carlsen playing in the world championship have refused to die down. After Gukesh defeated Carlsen for the first time in classical chess in round 6 of Norway Chess in the early hours of Monday at Stavanger, Gukesh's trainer Grzegorz Gajewski said the win would give him a lot of confidence. But perhaps, more importantly, Gajewski said that he hoped the win would earn the Indian teenager more 'credit'. READ MORE: A bang of the fist, two apologies, a pat on the back and a history-making win – How Gukesh took down Carlsen 'I think this win over Magnus is going to give him a bump. First of all, he had never beaten Magnus. Secondly, as a world champion, he keeps facing these comments that, 'ok, you're the world champion only because Magnus didn't play, etc, etc. You know, you try not to hear those comments. But then you lose to him, and then you lose to him again, and that's not a bit pleasant. Now, he's beaten him. So, I hope this is going to give him some credit and a lot of confidence,' Gajewski told Indian media at Stavanger after the 19-year-old's win over the world no 1. Carlsen was, in fact, asked by the Take Take Take app in an interview before the Norway Chess tournament began if 'Gukesh was a worthy world chess champion in his opinion'. OH MY GOD 😳🤯😲 — Norway Chess (@NorwayChess) June 1, 2025 Carlsen's measured response had been to say: 'He won the Candidates ahead of a field of world-beaters and he's done incredibly well in classical chess over the last couple of years including giving one of the all-time best performances at the Olympiad. Is he the best player in the world? Remains to be seen! But is he a worthy world champion? By what they measure that by I think he certainly is!' Players like former world champion Garry Kasparov have also made comparisons between Gukesh and Carlsen recently. The Russian had said that World no 1 Magnus Carlsen is 'widely considered, by all metrics, as a better player' than the reigning world champion from India. READ MORE: Meet Bjarte Leer-Helgesen, man who saw Magnus Carlsen take first steps on chess board, then become prison chaplain who played chess with jail inmates Gajewski revealed that after Gukesh had lost the opening game of Norway Chess to Carlsen, there was plenty of self reflection from Gukesh. It was during this that they came to the conclusion that their time management needed to improve. Against Carlsen on Sunday, Gukesh stuck neck-and-neck even on the clock before a mad time scramble ensued at the end which Gukesh won after an uncharacteristic blunder from Carlsen. 'After the first game, as I recall, we generally discussed the mistakes that were made. He was quite critical of his own game, but at the same time, the game was a high level game. We saw that the main problem was time management, and because of the time trouble, he managed to lose the position that he should not have lost. Things happen in time troubles. So we decided that we have to correct this time management, and already in the game with Hikaru, we could witness this improvement and progress. Even today, it was a little bit better. Even though the position was a little bit bad, he took some time but okay, in the difficult situation, you just have to think because if you make one more mistake, it would be immediately over.' Gukesh said. Asked what will change because of this, Gajewski said: 'It just gives a huge bump of confidence. Because once you've done it, you know you can do it again. And that's the plan.'
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Gukesh has so much to learn… not yet complete as player, says trainer Grzegorz Gajewski
Grzegorz Gajewski, the man who was the sherpa guiding Gukesh's ascent to the coveted world champion's throne late last year, believes that despite the Chennai teenager becoming the youngest world champion in history, there's still lots of scope to learn for the teenager from Chennai. Gukesh is currently playing at the Norway Chess tournament, where he lost to China's Wei Yi in the Armageddon on Saturday after their classical contest ended in a draw. This year's Norway Chess tournament has an incredibly strong field, with the world's top 5 players competing, with China's Wei Yi being the lowest rated player at No 8. Asked in an interview by the official YouTube channel of Norway Chess what the biggest challenge working with someone as young as Gukesh was, the Polish trainer said: 'Everything is a challenge at this age because nothing is formed really. So he's not yet complete as a chess player, he's not yet complete as a person. Everywhere there are some smaller or bigger challenges waiting for you.' Gajewski started travelling full time with Gukesh since Norway Chess 2023, an association that led to Gukesh winning the Candidates at the first time of asking after prevailing over an elite eight-player field and then defeating Ding Liren to become the 18th world champion in the sport's history. He was asked what is the next challenge for him as a trainer. Gajewski pointed out that even though Gukesh was a world champion, there was plenty of scope for growth. 'I think the biggest trick here is to somehow find the balance between the urge of immediate results and the long-term goal which is basically to improve as a player. I think this is the key here and of course he's a world champion already but we should not forget he's only 19. There is so much he has to learn yet and for me this is a priority. If he wins some championship matches as part of the process that's great, but the key for him is to improve,' he said. Gajewski was first introduced to Gukesh at Viswanathan Anand's WACA chess academy, which was started during the pandemic. Gajewski had previously worked with Anand as a second too. Asked how different it was working with Gukesh compared to working with Anand, Gajewski said: 'Very much different. When I started working with Vishy, he was already a man who achieved it all. A five-time world champion, a famous player and a legend. So it's kind of a different situation because what can I really teach him, right? So I was basically taking care of his repertoire and trying to set new goals so he could stay ambitious which obviously was tricky for the man who achieved it all already. With Gukesh it's pretty much different because he's so young, he has so much to learn and so much to achieve. So they were at completely different points in their careers.' Gajewski also heaped praise on Gukesh. 'What was special for him was his ability to learn and to draw conclusions from his own errors. He had many ups and downs but whenever he felt he was able to take the best lesson from this fall and use it to his advantage in the future.'
Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Norway Chess: Gukesh defeats Hikaru Nakamura hours before turning 19
Gukesh Dommaraju was besieged by a long line of autograph seekers at the Finansparken Bjergsted after he finally ended his losing streak at the Norway Chess tournament, defeating tournament leader Hikaru Nakamura in 42 moves on Wednesday. By the time an unhappy-looking Nakamura resigned, it was already midnight in India, which means Gukesh had turned 19. But in Stavanger, he was still a few hours away from turning 19. The win was significant for the reigning world champion, who lost his first two games at the tournament to Magnus Carlsen and compatriot Arjun Erigaisi. But then, he rebounded by taking down Nakamura after rejecting his draw offer on move 30. For the past two days, Gukesh has power-walked his way out of the building after losing his games. But on Wednesday, he took his time to sign every piece of paper and every chess board put in front of him. He also posed for many selfies from kids, occasionally breaking into a smile for any of them. He was met by his long-time coach Grzegorz Gajewski near the exit. The Polish coach first started travelling full-time with Gukesh at the Norway Chess tournament in 2023 and the duo have had significant success in recent past, winning the Candidates tournament in 2024 and then becoming the youngest world champion in history by defeating Ding Liren last year. But the past few months have been rough on the duo, with success being at a premium. 'Obviously the last two games were kind of tough,' Gukesh said after the win. 'Today I just tried to play it as a fresh tournament.' 'I feel quite good. I think my time management was much better today than before,' Gukesh said after the game. 'He had some drawing chances, but I guess overall it was good.' Asked if he had any plans to celebrate his birthday, Gukesh said: 'I mean during tournaments it's always about the game. I just want to play a good game, and I'm looking forward to seeing the results.' Amit Kamath is Assistant Editor at The Indian Express and is based in Mumbai. ... Read More
Washington Post
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
6 Democrats want to be Va.'s lieutenant governor. Here's what to know.
RICHMOND — They all promise to 'fight' or 'stand up' to President Donald Trump. All want to spend more on education, protect abortion access, increase the minimum wage and restore voting rights for people who have completed felony sentences. The six candidates vying to become the Democratic nominee for Virginia lieutenant governor in a June 17 primary agree on so many top-line issues that voters might wonder: Why are so many running, and what are the differences that could help decide the race?
