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Carlsen Wins Norway Chess 2025: 7 Key Takeaways
Magnus Carlsen has won Norway Chess 2025, making it his seventh title at the event. This year’s tournament was unforgettable—not just for the chess, but for the intense drama, especially with World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju.
Let’s break down the top stories from this exciting event.
1. Carlsen Struggled But Still Triumphed
Magnus Carlsen won Norway Chess again, but it wasn’t easy. He won 3 classical games, lost 1, and drew 6. Under traditional scoring, he would have won outright.
Carlsen said he played the best chess overall, even though he barely crossed the finish line.
“I felt that I generally played the best chess.” — Magnus Carlsen
2. Gukesh Beats Carlsen in an Emotional Clash
In round 6, Carlsen was winning against Gukesh. But a mistake turned the game around. Gukesh seized his chance and won. Carlsen slammed the table in frustration. The dramatic moment went viral worldwide. Even PSG football club shared it!
Carlsen later admitted:
“It wasn’t my finest hour. I regret the moves more than the gesture.”
3. The Veterans Still Shine: Carlsen, Caruana & Nakamura
The experienced trio performed well again:
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Fabiano Caruana had 4 wins and nearly won the title.
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Hikaru Nakamura played safe and smart, securing key rating points.
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Carlsen, of course, took the title.
Nakamura summed it up:
“I further cement my status as the world number-two player.”
4. Young Stars Are Strong—But Not Unstoppable Yet
Gukesh, 19, had 4 wins and 4 losses. He played bravely, even from losing positions. Arjun Erigaisi delivered wild games—checkmating Carlsen in the final round!
Carlsen believes the younger players still have flaws:
“They’re not ready to take over yet.”
5. Anna Muzychuk: Steady and Unbeaten
In the Women’s event, Anna Muzychuk was the only player to go undefeated in classical games. She won the title with a consistent performance.
She called it:
“A big success in one of the strongest women’s tournaments.”
6. Fast Classical Format: Exciting but Tough
Norway Chess uses a fast time control—no increment until move 41, then only 10 seconds per move. That led to time scrambles and big mistakes under pressure. Still, it made games more exciting for fans.
Carlsen supported the format:
“Two hours is more than enough to play a really good game of chess.”
7. No One Retired—But There Were Doubts
Carlsen hinted again at possibly stepping away from classical chess. Nakamura said his game with Carlsen might be their last in classical format. However, no one made any big announcements—yet. The passion for chess still burns, even if the road is tough.
Watch the Games Again
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Rewatch the action on Chess24’s YouTube and Twitch channels
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Or check out the games on the official event page
Photos: Michal Walusza, Maria Emelianova, Norway Chess
Source: CHESS.com
