In a high-stakes match that gripped the chess world, India’s teenage chess prodigy D Gukesh stunned five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen at the ongoing Norway Chess 2025 tournament.
It was a tense classical match where Carlsen seemed in control for most of the game, until one unexpected mistake gave Gukesh the opening he needed. With calmness beyond his years, the 19-year-old pounced on the opportunity, flipping the game on its head and clinching his first-ever classical win over Carlsen.
While the chess community was already buzzing with praise for Gukesh, it was industrialist Anand Mahindra’s reaction that caught everyone’s attention. Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Mahindra highlighted the emotional impact of the match, especially the contrast between Carlsen’s frustration and Gukesh’s composed silence:
“Carlsen’s visible frustration at the end wasn’t just a tantrum — it was the greatest compliment the World Champion could receive from the GOAT. No fist pump. No smirk. Gukesh didn’t need one. His silence roared louder than Carlsen’s exit. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽”
It wasn’t just a win on the board — it was a moment that symbolized a potential shift in the world chess hierarchy. Gukesh, who became the youngest World Chess Champion in 2024, has been riding a wave of momentum, and this victory adds another major highlight to his rising career.
Throughout the game, Carlsen looked poised to walk away with a win. He maintained a strong position for the majority of the match, but one miscalculation in the endgame changed everything. Gukesh didn’t flinch. Instead, he showed maturity and laser focus, converting the small slip into a game-changing move.
With this win, Gukesh now has 8.5 points in the tournament and has jumped into third place, just a single point behind joint leaders Carlsen and American GM Fabiano Caruana, who both have 9.5 points.
For Indian chess fans, it’s more than just a win — it’s a sign that the next generation is not just coming, it’s already here.