Caruana catches Carlsen in the lead

Reigning world champion Gukesh Dommaraju scored a major milestone victory in round six of the Norway Chess tournament by defeating Magnus Carlsen in a classical game for the first time in his career. The dramatic game saw Carlsen outplay his younger opponent for much of the contest, only to lose control in time trouble and ultimately blunder in a balanced position.

The result was clearly frustrating for Carlsen, who showed his displeasure at the board by hitting the table after resigning.

The loss cost Carlsen the sole lead, as Fabiano Caruana beat Hikaru Nakamura in Armageddon to catch up on points. Arjun Erigaisi also won his mini-match, defeating Wei Yi in the tiebreaker. With one round to go, Carlsen and Caruana share the lead, with Gukesh now just one point behind in sole third.

Standings after round 6

Attack like a Super Grandmaster

In this Fritztrainer: “Attack like a Super GM” with Gukesh we touch upon all aspects of his play, with special emphasis on how you can become a better attacking player.

Time to celebrate! | Photo: Michal Walusza

Gukesh Dommaraju registered a career-defining win by defeating Magnus Carlsen in classical chess, turning the tables in a game the Norwegian had dominated for most of its duration. Carlsen played nearly flawlessly through the middlegame and built up a clearly winning position, only to falter in the final phase of the game.

With time running low, Carlsen began to lose control, while Gukesh, although worse, continued to find resourceful moves to stay in the game. The world champion prolonged the position just enough for Carlsen to slip. After squandering his advantage, the game became balanced, and a final misstep by the former world champion allowed Gukesh to seize the initiative and get the win.

Gukesh, Dommaraju2787

1–0

Carlsen, Magnus2837

Norway Chess 2025 Stavanger01.06.2025[Schulz,A]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 0-0 6.0-0 d6 7.h3 a6 8.Ba4 h6 9.Re1 b5 10.Bc2 Bb6 10...Re8 11.b4 Bb6 12.a4 Bd7 13.Nbd2 Ne7 14.Nf1 a5 15.bxa5 Rxa5 16.Be3 Bxe3 17.Nxe3 Ng6= 1/2-1/2 (62) Nakamura,H (2736) -Carlsen,M (2872) Moscow 2019 11.Nbd2 Ne7 12.a4 Rb8 12...Bb7 13.d4 Ng6 14.Nf1 Re8 15.Ng3 d5 16.exd5 Qxd5 17.axb5 axb5 18.Rxa8 Bxa8 19.Ne4= 1-0 (47) Schon,E (2002)-Yuen,J Sydney 2008 13.d4 Ng6 14.Nf1 c5 15.Ng3 cxd4 16.cxd4 bxa4 17.Bxa4

The chances are equal. 17...Bb7 18.d5 a5 19.Be3 19.b3!? Bc8 20.Ba3 Nf4 21.Rc1= 19...Bc8 20.b3 Bxe3 21.Rxe3 Nf4 Black already has some initiative here. 22.Bc6 Rb4 23.Qc2 g6 23...Bxh3 24.gxh3 Nxh3+ was still possible now. 24.Kh1 Ba6 25.Qa2 Bd3 26.Nd2 h5 With just a few moves, Black has clearly taken control. 27.Qxa5 Qxa5 28.Rxa5 h4 29.Ra4 Rfb8 29...Rxa4 30.bxa4 hxg3? 30...Rb8-+ 31.fxg3 N4h5 32.Rxd3 30.Ra2 Kg7

Black is much more active and is in control of the board. 31.Ra7 Rd4 32.Nf3 hxg3 33.fxg3 Nxh3 33...Bxe4!? 34.gxf4 Rd1+ with the idea 35.Kh2 exf4 36.Rc3 Ng4+ 37.hxg4 Rh8+ and mate. 34.gxh3 Bxe4 35.Kh2 Rd1 There are many ways to win. 35...Bxf3 36.Rxf3 e4-+ 37.Re3 Rd3-+ 36.g4 Bxd5 Still the strongest was 36...Bxf3 37.Rxf3 e4 38.Re3 Rd3-+ 37.Bxd5 Nxd5 38.Re2 Nf4 39.Rc2 Kf6 40.h4

In terms of material, the position is equal, but the black d-pawn is strong and the white king is in danger. 40...Ke6 40...Rh8!? with the idea 41.-- Rd3 41.Ng5+ Kd5 42.Ra5+ Kd4 43.Ra4+ Kd3?! The advance of the black king is quite double-edged. 44.Rf2 f6?! A loss of momentum. 44...Rh8!? 45.Rf3+ Kc2 46.Ra2+ Kb1 47.Rff2 Nd3 48.Rfd2-+ 45.Rf3+ Ke2 46.Ra2+?! 46.Re4+!? Kd2 47.Ra4 With the threat of Ne4. Kc2 47...Ke1 48.Re4+ Kd2= The threat was 47...-- 48.Ne4+ Ke2 49.Rg3 Rc1 50.Ra2+ Black is in trouble. 48.Ne4 Rc8 49.Ra2+ Kb1 50.Rff2 Nd3 51.Rfe2= 46...Rd2 47.Rxd2+ Kxd2 48.Ne4+ Ke2 49.Kg3 d5 50.Nxf6 Rf8 51.Rf2+ Ke1 52.Nd7 Ne2+

53.Rxe2+ Kxe2 54.Nxf8 d4 Carlsen apparently thought that his d-pawn would decide the game, but the white knight arrives just in time. 55.Ne6 d3 56.Nc5 Ke3 56...d2 57.Ne4 d1Q 57...d1N does not help either: 58.b4 Ne3 59.b5 Nd5 60.h5 gxh5 61.gxh5 58.Nc3++- 57.Na4 e4 58.h5 gxh5 59.gxh5 Kd2 60.Nb2 e3 61.Nc4+ Ke2 62.Kf4 1–0

Expert analysis by GM Daniel King

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Gukesh could not believe what had just happened | Photo: Michal Walusza

The all-American encounter between Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura, the two strongest players from the United States, began with a 31-move draw in the classical game. Both contesters played solidly, and the position never veered far from equilibrium.

In the Armageddon tiebreak, Nakamura had the white pieces and created some dynamic chances, but Caruana defended with precision.

As the game progressed into a rook and bishop versus rook and bishop endgame, Caruana managed to simplify by giving up his bishop in a theoretically drawn position. His move 58...Rxc5 prepared to surrender the bishop on e3, leaving only a dark-squared bishop and an a-pawn that promotes on a light square - known to be a theoretical draw.

The draw was agreed on move 64, handing Caruana 1½ points and allowing him to catch Carlsen in the lead with 9½ points.

Hikaru Nakamura agrees to a draw in the Armageddon decider against Fabiano Caruana | Photo: Michal Walusza

The third mini-match of the day also went to Armageddon. After a balanced 31-move draw in the classical game between Arjun Erigaisi and Wei Yi, the Indian grandmaster showed strong preparation and accuracy to win the decider.

Wei's decision to play 17...Ke7 in the Armageddon game proved mistaken. Arjun responded with the accurate 18.Qc1, creating concrete threats that made 18...Kxd6 unplayable due to 19.Ra3, which traps the black queen.

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From that point, Arjun maintained his advantage with a near-flawless sequence of moves. Wei could not recover, and resignation followed on move 35. Arjun's win lifted him to 7½ points, within reach of a strong final standing.

Arjun Erigaisi | Photo: Michal Walusza

All games - Classical

All games - Armageddon

Links

• Official site
• Magnus Carlsen wins sixth Norway Chess title (2024)
• Ju Wenjun triumphant at inaugural Norway Chess Women event (2024)
• Nakamura beats Caruana to win Norway Chess (2023)
• Magnus Carlsen wins Norway Chess for a fourth straight time (2022)
• Carlsen wins Norway Chess, Firouzja shines (2021)