In a moment that sent shockwaves through the global chess community, 19-year-old reigning world champion D Gukesh achieved a monumental milestone — his first-ever classical win over legendary Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen. The stunning victory came in Round 2 of the Norway Chess 2025 tournament in Stavanger and marked a turning point in the young Indian prodigy’s career.
Carlsen, who had defeated Gukesh in the opening round just a week earlier and boldly tweeted a quote from The Wire — “You come at the king, you best not miss.” — was bested in a game that saw him dominate until a dramatic late blunder.
After 62 intense moves, Gukesh turned the tables, and Carlsen couldn’t contain his emotions. “Oh my God!” he shouted, slamming his fist on the board — toppling pieces, including his own king — in a rare display of frustration. The eruption, while short-lived, has become the focal point of criticism across social media platforms.
Magnus Carlsen’s outburst sparks online outrage
Despite apologizing twice to Gukesh and giving him a congratulatory pat on the back, Magnus Carlsen’s emotional reaction ignited widespread backlash online. Many fans interpreted his gesture as unsportsmanlike and reflective of an arrogance that had gone unchallenged until now.
Here’s how the internet reacted:
“This is how you beat arrogance.. Congratulations D Gukesh”
“I've never seen Magnus Carlsen bang the fckn board, after an opponent plays the killer move, looking so angry. And certainly never saw him blunder this bad. Aura of D Gukesh increasing day by day.”
“This is how real guts to challenge looks. Even after that the winner is so composed and calm like flowing water. Not much PR stuffs. He is the #YuzuruHanyu of chess who knows to topple up the table! Not like some boaring field thrower competing among babies😒. Congrats @DGukesh”
D Gukesh: Calm amid the chaos
In contrast, Gukesh handled the victory — and the drama — with poise beyond his years. “No, it was heartbreaking how he lost. I completely understand. I have also banged many tables in my career.” he told Chess.com. “But I wasn’t paying too much attention to what he did, I was trying to calm myself down.”
While Magnus Carlsen’s loss was painful, as noted by chess legend Susan Polgar — “Carlsen outplayed Gukesh, but made massive blunder to lose a winning game! This is the biggest shock of the year!” — the win cemented Gukesh’s legacy as the next big force in world chess. His father and coach celebrated the moment in silence but with the kind of joy that spoke volumes.
A new era of chess rivalry?
This wasn’t the first time a teenage Indian Grandmaster had stunned Carlsen at Norway Chess. Last year, it was Praggnanandhaa who claimed a similar landmark win. Now, with Gukesh adding his name to that elite list, a new chapter in elite chess rivalry is unfolding — one that Carlsen may not be able to dominate as effortlessly as before.