The 13th edition of Norway Chess 2025 in Stavanger has become a battleground for chess giants, with World No. Magnus Carlsen and reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju trading dramatic blows. In a highly anticipated classical encounter, Carlsen opened the tournament by defeating Gukesh in a spectacular king hunt, marking their first classical game since Gukesh claimed the world title.
However, the rivalry intensified in round six when Gukesh stunned Carlsen, overturning a lost position to secure his first-ever classical win against the Norwegian legend. Carlsen, who had dominated most of the game, faltered in a tense time scramble, allowing Gukesh to capitalize and snatch victory—an outcome hailed as the “Turnaround of the Year”.
With Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana now sharing the overall lead, and Gukesh just a point behind, the tournament’s final rounds promise a nail-biting finish. The unique Norway Chess format, awarding three points for a classical win and featuring armageddon tiebreaks, has kept the leaderboard volatile and the competition fierce.
As the world’s elite—Carlsen, Gukesh, Caruana, Nakamura, Arjun Erigaisi, and Wei Yi—battle for supremacy, all eyes are on Stavanger to see who will emerge as the 2025 Norway Chess champion.
