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D Gukesh vs Magnus Carlsen: Chess' most unexpected rivalry of the decade
The chessboard is loud now, it’s full of drama, big egos, and the heat of a new fight. In the middle stand two players: Magnus Carlsen, the star from Norway who has been on top for over ten years, and D Gukesh, the young 18-year-old from Chennai who just became the youngest ever World Chess Champion.
What began as small snubs and light jokes has blown up into loud table hits, funny clips, and a fight that’s brought the most fun story to the chess world in a long while. From biting words to big losses, every clash between them is full of mind games. Magnus Carlsen, known for being the best and proud, finds himself hurt by the young player he once put down. But D Gukesh, cool and calm, keeps hitting back, not with words, but with smart moves. Here is the chess clash no one saw coming, but now, no one can stop watching.
The young king of Chess, D Gukesh and the hurt emperor, Magnus Carlsen
D Gukesh’s quick rise was in the news already when he won the 2024 Candidates Tournament at 17. But when he beat Ding Liren 7.5–6.5 in the World Championship to become the youngest top champ, the game changed. Yet, Magnus Carlsen wasn’t happy. The past champ, who left his title in 2022 as he felt unmotivated, talked down the D Gukesh–Ding game, calling it like a “minor game.” It wasn’t just a small remark, it was a clear snub.
Magnus Carlsen said D Gukesh “wasn’t on his level” and not a risk in fast games. Gukesh, on his part, didn’t fight back with words or talks. Instead, he did what champs do, he played. In the 2024 Norway Chess event, he won over Magnus Carlsen for the first time in a classic game, and later, in the fast SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz in Zagreb, he shocked him again. It was clear, D Gukesh wasn’t just fit for the crown, he was coming for the throne Carlsen thought was still his.
Magnus Carlsen's viral mad moves during Norway Chess 2025 against D Gukesh
Magnus Carlsen’s anger hit a high at Norway Chess 2025, where a key game changed things. In a usual game against D Gukesh, Magnus Carlsen was set to win, until he wasn’t. A big mistake turned the game around, letting D Gukesh win. Right after giving up, Magnus Carlsen hit the table, making pieces fly, a rare and wild move from the often calm Carlsen.
The moment went viral fast, splitting the chess fans. Some called it bad sportsmanship, while others, like Indian GM Nihal Sarin, said it was just a burst of self-anger. Even D Gukesh, with a grin, said he had hit tables too. But the web doesn’t forget. Clips, jokes and fan posts filled social sites, making the moment a symbol: the once unbeaten king physically upset by the young challenger.
Also WATCH: You can view the video related to the event – Norway Chess 2025
Not long after, during the Esports World Cup semifinal in Riyadh against Hikaru Nakamura, with the crowd cheering for Hikaru, Magnus Carlsen quieted them by putting a finger to his lips after a win. The move was big, raw, and hard to forget. These events show a once-top player not only fighting new rivals but also dealing with the mental toll of not being the best anymore.
An invisible clash inside Magnus Carlsen’s mind with D Gukesh
Perhaps the most telling sign of how much D Gukesh now occupies space in Carlsen’s psyche came during a playful social media segment at the Esports World Cup. Asked to remain silent until someone named a player better than him, Magnus Carlsen sat mute through legends like Bobby Fischer, Karpov.
D Gukesh’s name was left out. But hours later, under the post’s comments, Magnus Carlsen wrote: “Would have stayed quiet for Gukesh as well,” It was not a clear good word, but it showed much more. He did not need to say a thing, yet he spoke. D Gukesh was not meant to come up, but he stayed in Magnus Carlsen’s thoughts, and he spoke of him on his own.
Also WATCH: You can view the video related to the recent event – Esports World Cup
That little word told more than big news could. It was a small nod of respect, with a drop of wit, thrown into a big buzz, and chess fans went at it. Ready or not, D Gukesh is now in Magnus Carlsen’s mind game. He’s not just on the rise, he’s the mark of a new time. And Magnus Carlsen? He’s not the one going after. He’s the king others chase.
