Latest news with #Nakamura
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Birthday boy Gukesh beats Nakamura to earn three points in Norway Chess
World champion D. Gukesh finally got his campaign back on track on his 19th birthday, defeating World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura of the United States to open his account with three points in Norway Chess on Thursday (May 29, 2025). Gukesh, who suffered back-to-back defeats to World No. 1 Norwegian Magnus Carlsen and countrymate Arjun Erigaisi in the first two rounds, put Nakamura — one of the best Rapid and Blitz players — under time pressure to win the game in 42 moves. Gukesh, who was constantly under time pressure in the last two games, was the one who got Nakamura staring at the clock in round three of the six-player double round-robin tournament. 'I feel quite good (about the win). I think my time management was much better today than before. He (Nakamura) had some drawing chances, but I guess, overall, it was good," he said after the match. Asked if he would be comfortable in the Armageddon tie-break as the tournament progresses, Gukesh, whose core strength lies in Classical chess, said, 'Yeah, I mean at some point it will come for sure. But right now, I'm just happy with this (win).' Gukesh, who beat Ding Liren of China for the world title last December, acknowledged that the last two games, which he lost, were 'tough' on him. 'Obviously, the last two games were kind of tough. But today I just tried to play it as a fresh tournament. Glad I played (like that)," he said. Asked if the win was a direct consequence of managing the clock better than previous days, he conceded it was 'clearly horrible' time management in the last two games. 'Glad my time management and my game were pretty good (today),' he said.
United News of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- United News of India
Gukesh checkmates Nakamura at Norway Chess Tournament
Stavanger (Norway), May 29 (UNI) World Chess Champion GM Gukesh Dommaraju marked his 19th birthday with a vital victory against GM Hikaru Nakamura in the third round of the Norway Chess 2025 tournament here on Wednesday. After a shaky start to the event with two narrow losses, Gukesh bounced back emphatically, showcasing improved time management and resilience under pressure. The match, unfolding in the classical time control, featured the Giuoco Piano opening, where Gukesh surprised World No.2 Nakamura early with the aggressive queenside pawn thrust 13.b4!, disrupting Nakamura's setup. Attempting to counterattack on the kingside, Nakamura came close to salvaging a draw, but a critical misstep with gave Gukesh the upper hand. When Nakamura offered a draw on move 30, Gukesh declined and pressed forward with the move 31.h4!, effectively sealing the game in his favour. Nakamura's last attempt to turn the tide with was not played, and instead hastened his defeat. Gukesh converted the advantage with calm precision, ultimately securing a hard-fought win. Reflecting on his performance, Gukesh said, "I feel quite good! I think my time management was much better today than before. He [Nakamura] had some drawing chances, but overall it was a good game." The timing of the victory was particularly poignant, coinciding with midnight in India, allowing fans to celebrate the young champion's birthday in unison with his triumph. Gukesh's win is a significant turnaround after his initial struggles in the tournament, where time pressure and narrow losses threatened to derail his campaign. The victory not only boosts his confidence but also keeps him in contention in the highly competitive field, which includes top grandmasters such as Fabiano Caruana and Magnus Carlsen. Meanwhile, the tournament's leaderboard saw Caruana take sole lead after defeating GM Arjun Erigaisi, while Carlsen, despite a frustrating armageddon loss to GM Wei Yi, remains firmly in second place. Norway Chess 2025 continues with round four scheduled for Thursday, promising exciting clashes including a high-stakes encounter between Gukesh and Caruana. UNI BDN BM
India Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
Norway Chess: Gukesh beats Nakamura to get campaign back on track on birthday
World champion D Gukesh brought his campaign back on track on his 19th birthday, defeating world No.2 Hikaru Nakamura of the USA in the third round to open his account even as Arjun Erigaisi suffered his first defeat in the Norway Chess Tournament here on who suffered back-to-back defeats to world No.1 Norwegian Magnus Carlsen and compatriot Arjun Erigaisi in the first two rounds, put Nakamura -- one of the best Rapid and Blitz players -- under time pressure to win the game in 42 moves and collect three with white pieces, Gukesh, who was constantly under time pressure in the last two games, was the one who got Nakamura staring at the clock in round three of the six-player double round-robin tournament. "I feel quite good (about the win). I think my time management was much better today than before. He (Nakamura) had some drawing chances, but I guess, overall, it was good," said Gukesh as he moved to fifth spot on the points table ahead of Chinese No.1 Wei realised soon after the start of the game that something had gone wrong early on in a Giuoco Piano opening. He decided to reverse the situation by switching to a kingside attack that could exploit Gukesh's vulnerability after a difficult the Indian wasn't Nakamura came agonisingly close to a draw, he admitted to relaxing too soon. When the American offered a draw on move 30, he was instead met by a move, which sent him on a downward was a remarkable fightback for Gukesh after two successive defeats and he acknowledged that the previous two days had been tough for him."Yeah, obviously the last two games were kind of tough. But today, I just tried to play it as a fresh tournament. Glad I played (like that)," said if the win on Thursday was a direct consequence of managing the clock better than previous days, he conceded it was "clearly horrible" time management by him in the last two games."Glad my time management and my game were pretty good (today)," he whose core strength lies in Classical chess, was also asked if he would be comfortable in the Armageddon tie-break as the tournament progresses."Yeah, I mean at some point it will come for sure. But right now, I'm just happy with this (win)."Arjun Erigaisi losesAfter a superb start, Erigaisi suffered a setback as he went down to Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana, while defending champion Carlsen lost the Armageddon tie-break to China's Wei jumped into sole lead after logging in three more points to take his tally to six, while Carlsen was second on five points and Erigaisi and Nakamura tied for the third position with 4.5 points began the game with a very rare 7.h4 in the French Defence and Erigaisi, playing with black pieces, said later he was optimistic he could pull off a win as "white is a bit underdeveloped" move in French Caruana said after the match that his Indian opponent's optimism was the reason behind his loss."I was kind of mentally preparing for a draw at some point when he knew the opening very well and we reached an equal endgame, but he thought he was slightly better, and maybe that optimism led him a little bit wrong," said has been a remarkable turnaround for Caruana, who now leads the tournament after two classical wins in a row, despite starting with a loss to Nakamura. He also wrested back his world No.3 position on the live rating list from Erigaisi following the Humpy in joint leadIn the women's competition, two-time World Rapid champion Koneru Humpy, playing with white pieces, emerged joint leader with Ukraine's Anna Muzychuk on six points following a win over Iranian-Spanish Woman Grand Master Sara Khadem in the third Ju Wenjun got the better of R Vaishali in the Armageddon (Round 3):Open: Fabiano Caruana (USA – 6) bt Arjun Erigaisi (Ind – 4.5); D Gukesh (Ind – 3) bt Hikaru Nakamura (USA – 4.5); Magnus Carlsen (Nor – 5) lost to Wei Yi (Chn – 2.5 in Armageddon tie-break).Women: Koneru Humpy (Ind – 6) bt Sara Khadem (Esp -2 ); Ju Wenjun (Chn – 4) bt R Vaishali (Ind -2) in Armageddon tie-break.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
D Gukesh Beats Hikaru Nakamura To Earn Three Points In Norway Chess
World champion D Gukesh finally got his campaign back on track on his 19th birthday, defeating World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura of the United States to open his account with three points in Norway Chess on Thursday. Gukesh, who suffered back-to-back defeats to World No. 1 Norwegian Magnus Carlsen and countrymate Arjun Erigaisi in the first two rounds, put Nakamura -- one of the best Rapid and Blitz players -- under time pressure to win the game in 42 moves. Gukesh, who was constantly under time pressure in the last two games, was the one who got Nakamura staring at the clock in round three of the six-player double round-robin tournament. 'I feel quite good (about the win). I think my time management was much better today than before. He (Nakamura) had some drawing chances, but I guess, overall, it was good," he said after the match. Asked if he would be comfortable in the Armageddon tie-break as the tournament progresses, Gukesh, whose core strength lies in Classical chess, said, 'Yeah, I mean at some point it will come for sure. But right now, I'm just happy with this (win).' Gukesh, who beat Ding Liren of China for the world title last December, acknowledged that the last two games, which he lost, were 'tough' on him. 'Obviously, the last two games were kind of tough. But today I just tried to play it as a fresh tournament. Glad I played (like that)," he said. Asked if the win was a direct consequence of managing the clock better than previous days, he conceded it was 'clearly horrible' time management in the last two games. 'Glad my time management and mygame were pretty good (today),' he said.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Norway Chess 2025: Gukesh beats Nakamura to earn three points; Humpy shares lead
World champion D. Gukesh finally got his campaign back on track on his 19th birthday, defeating World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura of the United States to open his account with three points in Norway Chess on Thursday. Gukesh, who suffered back-to-back defeats to World No. 1 Norwegian Magnus Carlsen and countryman Arjun Erigaisi in the first two rounds, put Nakamura — one of the best Rapid and Blitz players — under time pressure to win the game in 42 moves. Gukesh, who was constantly under time pressure in the last two games, was the one who got Nakamura staring at the clock in round three of the six-player double round-robin tournament. 'I feel quite good (about the win). I think my time management was much better today than before. He (Nakamura) had some drawing chances, but I guess, overall, it was good,' he said after the match. GUKESH beats HIKARU! The World Champion declined a draw offer on move 30 and won the game 12 moves later. 😱 🔥#NorwayChess 📷 Norway Chess / Michal Walusza — Norway Chess (@NorwayChess) May 28, 2025 Asked if he would be comfortable in the Armageddon tie-break as the tournament progresses, Gukesh, whose core strength lies in Classical chess, said, 'Yeah, I mean at some point it will come for sure. But right now, I'm just happy with this (win).' Gukesh, who beat Ding Liren of China for the world title last December, acknowledged that the last two games, which he lost, were 'tough' on him. 'Obviously, the last two games were kind of tough. But today I just tried to play it as a fresh tournament. Glad I played (like that),' he said. Asked if the win was a direct consequence of managing the clock better than previous days, he conceded it was 'clearly horrible' time management in the last two games. 'Glad my time management and my game were pretty good (today),' he said. Standings after 3rd round Open 1. Fabiano Caruana (6 points) 2. Magnus Carlsen (5 points) 3. Hikaru Nakamura (4.5 points) 4. Arjun Erigaisi (4.5 points) 5. D. Gukesh (3 points) 6. Wei Yi (2.5 points) Women 1. Anna Muzychuk (6 points) 2. Koneru Humpy (6 points) 3. Lei Tingjie (4 points) 4. Ju Wenjun (4 points) 5. R. Vaishali (2 points) 6. Sara Khadem (2 points)
