World Champion D Gukesh to Face Magnus Carlsen in Rare Classical Clash in 2025
World Champion D Gukesh is set to face Magnus Carlsen in a rare classical clash in 2025 at the Norway Chess tournament starting on May 26. The highly anticipated match-up between the reigning champion and the 5-time champion has chess fans around the world buzzing with excitement.
Gukesh, who recently made headlines by defeating Ding Liren in the Chess World Championship in 2024, will be looking to put up a strong performance against the legendary player. Carlsen, currently holding the top ranking in the FIDE ratings with 2833 points, is known for his strategic prowess and tactical brilliance on the chessboard.
This will be the first time since 2023 that these two chess giants will face each other. In their previous encounter at the FIDE World Cup 2023, Gukesh faced Carlsen in the quarterfinals and unfortunately lost. The Norway Chess tournament has already named 6 players in the men’s competition, including Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, Arjun Erigaisi, and Wei Yi, alongside Gukesh and Carlsen.
CEO of Norway Chess, Kjell Madland, expressed his excitement about the strong lineup of players for this year’s tournament. He emphasized the diversity of nations represented in the field, with players from China, India, and the USA adding to the competitive mix.
In a surprising turn of events, Magnus Carlsen has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the classical format of chess in recent times. The Norwegian chess icon opted out of defending his Chess World Championship title and even faced disqualification in a recent tournament for violating FIDE’s dress code by wearing jeans.
Despite his criticisms of classical chess, Carlsen remains a formidable force in the chess world and is expected to bring his A-game against Gukesh in their upcoming clash. Chess enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the showdown between these two chess prodigies at the Norway Chess tournament.
As the chess world gears up for this epic battle of minds, all eyes will be on Gukesh and Carlsen as they prepare to face off in a classical chess showdown that promises to be a thrilling spectacle for fans and players alike.
Published By: Kingshuk Kusari
Published On: Feb 3, 2025