Magnus Carlsen Wins Norway Chess 2025, Says Gukesh, Arjun, Pragg, and Aravindh ‘Not Yet Ready to Take Over’
World chess icon Magnus Carlsen once again proved why he remains the gold standard in global chess by winning his seventh Norway Chess title in 2025. After an intense battle against some of the world’s best, Carlsen edged out the competition, calling his triumph a “relief” after what he described as a “rollercoaster” tournament.
Among the challenges he faced was a notable defeat to Indian teenager and rising star Gukesh D, a moment that Carlsen admitted “was not a positive memory” but one that “will stick out” from the tournament.
When asked to compare Gukesh with another Indian prodigy, Arjun Erigaisi, Carlsen remained diplomatic. He added that R Praggnanandhaa and Aravindh Chithambaram also posed a strong challenge during a simultaneous event in Armenia. However, Carlsen maintained a confident stance:
“They are very good chess players… but none of them are quite ready to take over.”
Despite Gukesh’s impressive performance and viral victory over Carlsen earlier in the tournament, the former world champion made it clear that experience and consistency still matter the most.
“I generally feel I can outplay the kids, which feels good,” he said. “They’re getting close, but I’m still ahead.”
The final standings reflected the tight competition. Gukesh, who had been riding high after his win against Carlsen, finished in third place with 14.5 points, behind Fabiano Caruana, who gained a significant boost by defeating Gukesh late in the tournament.
Gukesh’s campaign had captured widespread attention, with even Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulating him after his milestone victory over Carlsen. Yet, the young grandmaster fell short of the title in the closing rounds, a setback that visibly disappointed him.
As Carlsen lifted the trophy once again, his win sent a clear message: the next generation of Indian chess talent is promising—but the throne is still firmly occupied.
