Despite the chess world buzzing after Magnus Carlsen’s rare defeat to India’s D Gukesh, young Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has firmly stated that the five-time world champion remains the undisputed force in chess.
Carlsen, often regarded as the greatest chess player of all time, lost to Gukesh in a tense time scramble at the Norway Chess 2025 tournament — marking Gukesh’s first classical win over the Norwegian legend. The moment was historic, but also prompted questions about whether Carlsen’s dominance is beginning to fade.
Yet for Praggnanandhaa, who recently won the Tata Steel Masters 2025, Carlsen’s aura is untouched.
“Magnus is certainly the strongest player on the planet… In terms of score, Magnus still has a huge score against all the Indians,” he told Firstpost.
“It’s not that we do great against him, but we have beaten him in some games.”
Praggnanandhaa admitted that Carlsen’s mere presence at the board adds pressure.
“There’s this ‘Magnus effect.’ When you’re slightly worse in a position, you start doubting yourself because you’re playing Magnus,” he said.
Still, he doesn’t let the pressure get to him.
“I actually get extra energy when playing Magnus. I’m excited to fight it out. That’s why my games against him are always intense.”
“No One Should Be Compared to Magnus”
When asked about Carlsen’s recent remarks suggesting the younger generation is not yet ready to take over, Praggnanandhaa was respectful, yet realistic. He noted that the old guard — Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, and Fabiano Caruana — remains competitive, but so do the rising stars like Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, and himself.
“I don’t think we should compare anyone with anyone. Magnus is Magnus. He has done everything. He’s clearly the best player in chess.”
Reflecting on Gukesh’s win, Praggnanandhaa acknowledged it as unexpected:
“Magnus doesn’t usually blunder like that, but Gukesh defended well. I thought it would be a draw. Blunders happen in time pressure — but it’s still shocking coming from Magnus.”
Despite a surprising result in Norway, the chess community’s admiration for Carlsen clearly endures. With younger players rising rapidly, the competition may be closing in — but as Praggnanandhaa puts it: “Magnus is still the gold standard.”
