Magnus Carlsen Faces Unexpected Setback: Falls to Wesley So in Home Tournament

OSLO: Magnus Carlsen came for the fifth round of his home tournament clean-shaven, but the cobwebs remained in his play. Wesley So outplayed the Norwegian world No. 1, handing him his third classical defeat of the meet on Saturday. Though three defeats in a classical tournament are almost unheard of in Carlsen’s stellar career, it has not sent shockwaves. A combination of factors — Carlsen settling into his new role as a father, classical chess not being his priority, and his recent good results — have contributed to this absorption. He also lost to Alireza and Gukesh here but defeated Pragg.

Vishy Anand had suffered three defeats in his home city Chennai in the world title match 2013 against Carlsen. That was also in a span of five games, like in the title match vs Kasparov in 1995. The Norwegian is tasting a similar setback in his home elite tournament, though the stakes are lower. Veteran Spanish chess journalist Leontxo Gracia wondered: “The question is whether becoming a father has hampered Carlsen’s famed killer instinct.”

On the other hand, in less than six months, Carlsen has won five big events — Freestyle, Speed, Rapid, Blitz, and Malmo classical. Still, three defeats in five classical games cannot be brushed under the carpet. Elsewhere, the Carlsen-Wesley game was the only one in which the initiative did not change hands. In almost all other games, the pendulum swung wildly.

At the end of it all, Divya Deshmukh (8.5 points) took a sole half-point lead over Bibisara Assaubayeva. Divya punished Zhu Jiner (5.5) in the classical game as the Chinese failed to take her chances. Bibisara blundered against Anna Muzhychuk (7) in the Armageddon. In a game between veterans who were without defeat in the classical phase but winless in the Armageddon in four rounds, K Humpy won the Armageddon with black pieces against Ju Wenjun.

Divya is a deserving leader of the tournament at the halfway stage. And now, the bigger test: she must remain on the right side of nerves, preparation, and the exuberance of youth. D Gukesh (6.5 points) escaped with victory again — this time against R Praggnanandhaa (6). But the world champion, who turned 20 on Saturday, may not have attained ‘growth’ in Carlsen’s eyes, going by the quality of play in this game.

Magnus Carlsen Faces Uncharacteristic Defeat to Wesley So in Home Tournament

OSLO: In a surprising turn of events, Magnus Carlsen, the reigning world chess champion, suffered his third classical defeat of the tournament, falling to American grandmaster Wesley So in the fifth round of his home event on Saturday. The match showcased a stark contrast to Carlsen’s usual dominance, leaving fans and analysts alike questioning the reasons behind his unexpected performance.

Carlsen, who arrived at the tournament clean-shaven and seemingly ready to reclaim his form, struggled to find his rhythm against So. The game was notable for its lack of momentum shifts, with So maintaining control throughout, a rarity in high-stakes chess where the initiative often changes hands. This defeat adds to Carlsen’s earlier losses to Alireza Firouzja and Indian prodigy Gukesh D.

While three defeats in a classical tournament are almost unheard of for the Norwegian, they have not sent shockwaves through the chess community. Factors such as Carlsen’s recent transition into fatherhood and his shifting priorities in the chess world have contributed to a more relaxed approach to the game. Veteran Spanish chess journalist Leontxo Gracia raised an intriguing question: “Has becoming a father dulled Carlsen’s famed killer instinct?”

Despite these setbacks, Carlsen’s recent track record remains impressive. In less than six months, he has clinched victories in five major events, including Freestyle, Speed, Rapid, Blitz, and the Malmo classical tournament. However, the three defeats in just five classical games cannot be overlooked, marking a significant deviation from his typically stellar performance.

In the broader tournament landscape, Divya Deshmukh emerged as a standout competitor, taking a half-point lead over Bibisara Assaubayeva with 8.5 points. Deshmukh capitalized on Zhu Jiner’s missed opportunities, while Assaubayeva stumbled against Anna Muzhychuk in the Armageddon phase.

As the tournament reaches its halfway point, Deshmukh faces the challenge of maintaining her composure and focus amidst the pressures of competition. Meanwhile, D. Gukesh secured another victory, this time against R. Praggnanandhaa, who celebrated his 20th birthday on the same day.

With the stakes high and the competition fierce, all eyes will be on Carlsen as he seeks to rebound from this unexpected setback in the rounds to come. The chess world watches closely, eager to see if the champion can reclaim his form and assert his dominance once again.