In a heartbreaking conclusion to Norway Chess 2025, Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh missed out on what could have been the biggest win of his career, after a blunder in the final round against Fabiano Caruana cost him the championship title.
With only two seconds left on the clock, the 18-year-old offered a handshake, visibly devastated, covering his face in disbelief and frustration.
Defending champion Magnus Carlsen clinched his seventh Norway Chess title with 16 points, after a draw against Arjun Erigaisi in the final round. Caruana secured second place with 15.5 points, while Gukesh had to settle for third with 14.5 points.
Final Round Collapse
Facing Caruana, Gukesh found himself at a disadvantage early in the game. Despite fighting back bravely, he was under severe time pressure. A critical blunder at the end ended his title hopes. The emotional moment was captured on video as Gukesh realized the gravity of his mistake just seconds before time ran out.
His tournament strategy of playing on the edge and pushing opponents into time scrambles had paid off in earlier rounds—most notably when he defeated Carlsen in Round 6, prompting a rare display of emotion from the world champion, who slammed his table in frustration.
Anand’s Warning Comes True
Chess legend Viswanathan Anand, who has been mentoring young Indian GMs including Gukesh, had earlier shared a note of caution about the teen’s risky approach. “Both his games against Carlsen and Erigaisi were played extremely poorly. If that’s a conscious decision to provoke a struggle, I would be alarmed,” Anand had said.
He acknowledged Gukesh’s resilience but warned that inviting complications in every game could backfire, especially against top-tier opponents like Caruana. Sadly for Gukesh, Anand’s prediction proved true at a crucial moment.
A Learning Moment
Despite the crushing end, Gukesh’s overall performance remains commendable. At just 18, he has firmly established himself among the world’s elite, and his fighting spirit and composure under pressure won admiration from fans and chess pundits alike.
As the curtain falls on Norway Chess 2025, the young grandmaster will no doubt reflect on this narrow miss as a stepping stone in his rapid rise through global chess ranks.
