Gukesh Defeats Carlsen, Faces Viral Backlash

Indian world champion D Gukesh secured a historic first classical win against five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen in the sixth round of Norway Chess 2025, becoming only the second Indian to defeat Carlsen in the tournament. Carlsen, who lost due to a late blunder, banged the table in frustration—a moment that went viral and led to a wave of racist trolling against Gukesh, widely condemned by the chess community. The victory propelled Gukesh above Carlsen in the standings, and he later defeated compatriot Arjun Erigaisi to move to second place with 11.5 points, just behind Fabiano Caruana. Despite the controversy, Gukesh credited his resilience and luck for the win, while Carlsen acknowledged his opponent's fighting spirit. The incidents highlighted both the intense pressures of elite chess and the resilience required to overcome adversity on and off the board.