Sun. Jun 1st, 2025

Gukesh Defeats World No.2 Nakamura on Birthday

In Stavanger, a coastal Norwegian city where the weather seems to change as often as the chessboard positions, Gukesh Dommaraju brought a beam of light to his Norway Chess campaign. On Wednesday evening, the teenage grandmaster delivered a stunning blow to tournament leader Hikaru Nakamura, forcing the American to resign in just 42 moves. This marked Gukesh’s first points of the tournament, and by the time Nakamura laid down his king, the clock had struck midnight in India — officially making it Gukesh’s 19th birthday.

A Much-Needed Victory After a Rocky Start

The significance of this win can’t be overstated. Coming into the event, Gukesh was under immense pressure. As the reigning world chess champion — and the youngest in history after his monumental victory over Ding Liren — expectations were sky-high. However, he had a shaky start to the Norway Chess tournament, losing his first two games against none other than Magnus Carlsen and fellow Indian prodigy Arjun Erigaisi.

Gukesh’s confidence had already taken a hit earlier this month at the Superbet Chess Classic in Bucharest, where he finished 9th out of 10 players. Aside from a near-win at the Tata Steel Chess tournament in Wijk aan Zee, 2024 had been a tough year for the young champion. The victory against Nakamura, though, signals a possible turning point — a spark that could reignite his form and set the tone for the rest of the tournament.

Turning Down a Draw, Turning Up the Pressure

In the intense showdown against Nakamura, the key moment came around the 30th move. The game had been grinding toward a draw when Nakamura offered peace — a reasonable proposition for many in such a high-stakes setting. But Gukesh declined, choosing instead to press forward. He responded by pushing his h-pawn to h4 on move 31, a decision that would prove pivotal.

Nakamura, who later confessed on his YouTube stream that he had not anticipated such aggression, made a critical error in return. His response, 31… Qd6, was quickly flagged by computer engines as a blunder. From there, the position deteriorated rapidly, and Gukesh didn’t let go of his advantage.

“Obviously, the last two games were kind of tough,” Gukesh shared in a composed post-game interview. “Today I just tried to play it as a fresh tournament. I feel quite good. I think my time management was much better today than before. He had some drawing chances, but I guess overall it was good.”

A Change in Demeanor Off the Board

Gukesh’s demeanor after the match was a stark contrast to the past two days. After his losses, he had been seen briskly walking out of the venue, avoiding cameras and conversation. But following the win over Nakamura, he took his time — signing autographs, posing for photos, and even smiling with young fans who swarmed him with chessboards and pens.

Meeting him at the exit were two key figures in his life: his father, Rajini Kanth, and his long-time Polish trainer Grzegorz Gajewski. Gajewski has been traveling full-time with Gukesh since Norway Chess 2023, and together they’ve scaled incredible heights — winning the Candidates Tournament in 2024 and capturing the world championship title in what was an astonishing upset over Ding Liren.

But the last few months have tested the duo. Form had dipped, results weren’t going their way, and critics began to speculate if Gukesh had peaked too early. Wednesday’s win doesn’t silence all the doubters, but it’s a reminder that the young champion is far from done.

Nakamura’s Perspective: “What Did I Do?”

For Nakamura, the loss was both unexpected and frustrating. The American grandmaster initially felt that the game was heading toward a comfortable draw — until it wasn’t. The move 18.Bb4, played swiftly by Gukesh, left Nakamura puzzled. He admitted that it wasn’t among the candidate moves he had calculated. “When you play at the top level, you generally expect your opponent to play moves you’ve looked at. But Gukesh was playing things I didn’t think were all that acceptable,” he said.

Then came move 25…Rf4, a deviation from his original plan to play Na4. “It was simply inexplicable to me. What did I do?” Nakamura confessed. That moment of confusion turned out to be the beginning of the end.

Nakamura also admitted that he relaxed a little too early in the game. “That was definitely a mistake,” he said. Against a player like Gukesh, even a brief lapse in intensity can prove fatal.

No Time for Celebration

When asked whether he had any birthday celebrations planned, Gukesh gave a typically mature response. “I mean, during tournaments it’s always about the game. I just want to play a good game, and I’m looking forward to seeing the results.”

While most 19-year-olds might be thinking about birthday cakes and parties, Gukesh remains locked in — fully committed to his craft. For now, celebrations can wait. There’s a tournament to finish and a title to chase.

Conclusion: A Young King with Much to Prove

Gukesh Dommaraju’s win over Hikaru Nakamura was more than just a birthday gift — it was a message. To his critics, to his fans, and to the chess world: he’s still here, still fighting, still evolving. With age on his side and experience growing with every match, the teenage prodigy is showing the poise and grit of a seasoned veteran.

This tournament is far from over, and Gukesh’s path is still riddled with formidable opponents. But if Wednesday’s game was any indication, the young world champion has rediscovered his fire — and he’s ready to defend his crown.