Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised teenage chess star Gukesh Dommaraju on Monday for his stunning win over World No 1 Magnus Carlsen in the sixth round of the Norway Chess 2025 tournament.
The 19-year-old, who is the current World Champion, defeated Carlsen in the classical format for the first time in his career.
The win sparked widespread celebration across the Indian sporting world.
Taking to X, PM Modi posted, “An exceptional achievement by Gukesh! Congratulations to him for triumphing over the very best. His first-ever win against Magnus Carlsen in Round 6 of Norway Chess 2025 showcases his brilliance and dedication. Wishing him continued success in the journey ahead.”
An exceptional achievement by Gukesh! Congratulations to him for triumphing over the very best. His first-ever win against Magnus Carlsen in Round 6 of Norway Chess 2025 showcases his brilliance and dedication. Wishing him continued success in the journey ahead.@DGukesh pic.twitter.com/TjxyPzn3uN
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 2, 2025
Gukesh Outplays Carlsen In Time Trouble
Playing in Stavanger, Norway, against the hometown favourite, Gukesh found himself on the back foot in the endgame.
Carlsen appeared poised to extend his tournament lead with another classical win over the Indian.
However, Carlsen made a rare blunder during a time scramble. Gukesh seized the moment and turned the game around with precision.
“There wasn’t much I could do. I just had to make the most of it,” Gukesh said. “Time scrambles can get out of control. I was making tricky moves, and it worked.”
A Quiet Celebration; A Lesson In Grace
After the loss, Carlsen slammed the board and walked out of the hall, visibly angry. Gukesh, meanwhile, celebrated quietly with his coach Grzegorz Gajewski.
When asked about Carlsen’s reaction, Gukesh responded with poise: “It’s understandable. I’ve also banged a lot of tables in my career.”
Carlsen had beaten Gukesh earlier in the tournament. But this time, the Indian teenager showed nerves of steel.
The Norway Chess event follows a six-player double round-robin format. Gukesh’s victory now gives his campaign a strong push heading into the final rounds.
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