World No. 1 Grandmaster Slams Table After Surprise Defeat: Video

Magnus Carlsen, the longtime world No. 1 in chess, stunned audiences at the Norway Chess tournament on Sunday when he slammed his fist on the table following a loss to 19-year-old world champion Gukesh Dommaraju.

The outburst came after Carlsen blundered in the final moves of a tightly contested sixth-round game in Stavanger.

Why It Matters

Carlsen slammed the table and abruptly exited the venue without addressing the media, a rare display of emotion from the usually levelheaded five-time world champion.

His loss to Gukesh evens their head-to-head record in this year’s tournament and underscores the growing presence of a new generation of elite players.

Gukesh’s win also pushed him to eight and a half points, placing him just behind Carlsen and American grandmaster Fabiano Caruana, who are tied at the top with four rounds remaining. With the tournament still open, Gukesh’s comeback may reshape the final standings.

What To Know

Gukesh’s win marked his first-ever classical victory over Carlsen and significantly shifted the standings in the high-profile chess event.

The teenager from India, under pressure throughout much of the game, capitalized on a rare mistake from the Norwegian veteran to seize victory.

Carlsen had dominated their first encounter in round one and appeared poised to repeat that performance.

However, with both players operating on 10-second increment time controls, Carlsen made a fatal error, allowing Gukesh an opportunity to launch a decisive counterattack.

The mistake prompted Carlsen to hit the table with his fist, causing the chess pieces to topple over on the board, before he left the hall and declined post-match interviews.

Footage of Carlsen’s reaction has circulated online, with viewers commenting on the intensity of the competition and the sportsmanship implications.

Carlsen, who relinquished his world title in 2023 citing a lack of motivation, remains the world’s top-rated player and has led the International Chess Federation’s rankings for almost 15 consecutive years.

What People Are Saying

Gukesh Dommaraju said after the match, per The Guardian: “Right now, what means the most to me is that I didn’t lose the game. But yes, beating Magnus in any form is special.”

Grzegorz Gajewski, Gukesh’s coach, said: “Well, we could say it was lucky. But we have to give a lot of credit to Guki for his stubbornness and for his resourcefulness.”

Kiren Rijiju, the Indian minister of parliamentary affairs, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “This first win over Magnus Carlsen at Norway Chess 2025 is beginning of achieving another milestone. Proud of you, Gukesh! You’ve shown the world what quiet confidence & fierce focus can achieve!”

What Happens Next

The Norway Chess tournament continues until June 6.