The day after D Gukesh defeated him in the Norwegian chess tournament, Magnus Carlsen announced that he was seriously considering his future in a classic format. Magnus, who in 2024 did not prevent the crown of his world champion in classic chess, was quite clear about his dissatisfaction with the format.
Gukesh, when he heard news from the transmitter, looked visibly shocked and said it was quite interesting that Magnus had presented his intentions right after the game was lost.
“I didn’t see it. Something shocking. Okay, I don’t know. It is interesting that he announced it now. He was quite clear that he didn’t want to play classic. It’s a bit sad for others, but it’s his decision,” Gukesh said after his match against Arjun Erigaisi in the 7th round.
The day after his surprising defeat D Gukesh in the 6th round of the Norwegian chess tournament, Magnus Carlsen recognized a 19 -year -old Indian grandmother and combat spirit and admitted that he would normally win the game.
Carlsen, 34, maintained most of the match on Sunday, June 1, but the critical mistake under time pressure allowed Gukesh to catch victory. The frustrated five -time world champion killed a fist table and scattered pieces. Despite the explosion, he showed sports behavior by shaking his hands with Gukesh, resetting the album and giving the young man to his departure.
In the reflection of the game the following day Carlsen said:
“I remember that I am alone with the age, and sometimes your energy, your combat characteristics, and only optimism can outweigh the true quality of your movements. For a long time (Gukesh) has more or less blindly pushed. And then, yeah, of course, win this game.
Carlsen appreciated Gukesh’s resistance and readiness to seize the moment, even though there was a chance against him in what turned out to be an engaging end game.
“What he does well, as I mentioned, is that he is fighting very, very hard. And he was there to take advantage of his chances – so he deserves recognition,” Carlsen said. “But that’s such an opportunity I have to really turn off. If not, I don’t have a chance.”
Isn’t Carlsen classic anymore?
Carlsen was thinking about his future in a classic chess and said he would rather withstand the pain of loss in the format she loves.
“I think I will play the last three games (in the Norwegian chess), and then I will have to decide next year here or potential other tournaments later, because, yeah, I just don’t like it (classic chess),” he said.
When Carlsen asked directly if he was considering leaving classic events, he didn’t rule out, “It’s possible, yeah. I’m not going to sit here and say I won’t play classic events anymore, but it’s not right now.”
He added, “The point is that you know, the losses are painful no matter, but at least when I can lose something I really enjoy (blitz, fast or freestyle), then it’s much easier. It’s not that I can’t play it (classic chess), it’s just a situation like yesterday (loss for Gukesh).
In the 7th round, Carlsen and the American Grand Master Hikaru Nakamura agreed on a 21-toss draw in a classic format before Norwegian won the Armageddon tone.
Published:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
June 3, 2025
