- NEW DELHI — In a
high-stakes clash at the Norway Chess tournament, Hikaru Nakamura reignited his
campaign with a commanding victory over World Champion D. Gukesh in the
classical format, breaking a five-game winless streak and throwing the
leaderboard wide open.
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- Nakamura, the world number two, delivered a precise and
clinical performance, avenging his earlier defeat to Gukesh in Round 3. The
result marks a dramatic shift in momentum, especially for the young Indian
prodigy who was riding high after back-to-back classical wins against Magnus
Carlsen and Arjun Erigaisi.
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- With this win, Nakamura joins Gukesh at 11.5 points, putting
both players in a tie for third place as the tournament approaches its climax.
The victory also serves as a psychological boost for the American Grandmaster,
who had come under scrutiny after a string of underwhelming results earlier in
the event.
Also read: Norway Chess: Gukesh stuns Arjun Erigaisi with comeback victory in a thriller
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- For Gukesh, the loss is a minor setback in what has
otherwise been a breakout tournament. The 19-year-old, who became the
youngest-ever World Champion earlier this year, has shown remarkable poise and
maturity throughout the tournament, taking down some of the game's biggest
names. However, against a reinvigorated Nakamura, Gukesh faltered in the
middlegame, misjudging a critical pawn structure that allowed his opponent to
seize the initiative.
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- The tournament now heads into its final rounds with the top
spots still up for grabs. Carlsen, Firouzja, and Caruana remain in contention,
but with Gukesh and Nakamura now surging, the battle for the crown is far from
over.
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- Norway Chess 2025 continues to deliver thrilling battles and
high drama, with every round rewriting the script in this elite chess showdown.
