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Carlsen & Nakamura Win Big on Day One of Norway Chess 2025
Norway Chess 2025 kicked off with a bang! World number-one GM Magnus Carlsen defeated World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju in an intense classical game. This was their first face-off since Gukesh became champion — and Carlsen made it count.
Meanwhile, GM Hikaru Nakamura took down GM Fabiano Caruana, capitalizing on his opponent’s time trouble. GM Arjun Erigaisi also made a strong debut by beating GM Wei Yi in armageddon.
In the women’s section, GM Koneru Humpy made the most of a big blunder by GM Vaishali Rameshbabu, claiming the only classical win in round one. GMs Anna Muzychuk and Lei Tingjie won their matches via armageddon against IM Sara Khadem and Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun.
Round 1 Highlights (Open)
🔥 Carlsen Hunts Down Gukesh
Carlsen vs. Gukesh was the most dramatic game of the day. Carlsen played the Jobava London but admitted he was unprepared. Still, he managed to push for imbalances, waiting for his moment.
Gukesh played well under pressure, but one mistake in time trouble — 46…Qh6+ instead of 46…Rg2+ — proved fatal. Carlsen seized the opportunity and played the rest perfectly, even while relying on only the 10-second increment.
“I couldn’t stop myself from keeping the game going. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t losing — then I went for it!” — Magnus Carlsen
This win earned Carlsen 3 full points and early bragging rights over the new World Champion.
🎯 Nakamura Crushes Caruana
What started as a slow game turned into a one-sided win. Nakamura surprised Caruana in the opening, leaving him unsure and short on time.
By move 44, Caruana had less than 30 seconds on the clock, while Nakamura had over 30 minutes. One mistake — 66.Na4? — and Hikaru cleaned up quickly.
“If you’re prepared, this time control is great. If not — it’s a doozy!” — Hikaru Nakamura
Nakamura now aims to qualify for the 2026 Candidates via rating, and this win boosts that goal.
Nakamura recapped his game afterward:
⚡ Arjun Wins in Armageddon
GM Arjun Erigaisi made a smooth classical draw against GM Wei Yi. In armageddon, Arjun had Black, played fast, and eventually won on time.
“I was a bit bored, so I went to the confessional more than once!” — Arjun Erigaisi
With 1.5 points, Arjun is right behind leaders Carlsen and Nakamura.
Round 1 Highlights (Women)
💥 Humpy Punishes Vaishali’s Blunder
Koneru Humpy was struggling, but when Vaishali overpressed and played the blunder 42…Qa2??, Humpy pounced with 43.Bf8!, leading to a quick checkmate.
It was the only classical win in the women’s section for round one.
⚔ Lei Beats Ju in Armageddon
Last year, Ju Wenjun beat Lei Tingjie in classical chess. This time, Lei struck back. Their classical game was drawn, but Lei came out on top in a fiery armageddon battle.
“Last year I played very, very bad, so this year I want to win more armageddons!” — Lei Tingjie
🧠 Muzychuk Wins Mini-Match
GM Anna Muzychuk wasn’t happy with her classical game against IM Sara Khadem, but she recovered to win in armageddon. One mistake by Khadem (50…Qc5?) allowed Muzychuk to check and win with 51.Qb2+!
“I’m happy with the armageddon win — not my classical play.” — Anna Muzychuk
What’s Next?
Round 2 will feature the headline clash: Carlsen vs. Nakamura — world number-one vs. number-two! Their lifetime score favors Carlsen 14-1 in classical games, but things have been closer lately.
🕒 Round 2 starts:
Tuesday, May 27
11:00 a.m. ET / 17:00 CEST / 8:30 p.m. IST
Follow games live on the official Norway Chess Events Page.
Photos: Michal Walusza, Norway Chess
Source: CHESS.com
