A day after suffering a shock defeat to 19-year-old Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh in Round 6 of Norway Chess 2025, Magnus Carlsen opened up about the loss, his frustrations, and a possible reevaluation of his chess career. Speaking after his Round 7 Armageddon win over World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura, the five-time world champion admitted the loss was hard to digest and questioned his motivation for playing classical chess.
Reflecting on the game, Carlsen credited Gukesh's youthful energy and persistence. "I remember being that age myself—sometimes the energy and optimism you carry can outweigh the quality of the moves. Gukesh was blindly pushing but fighting hard, and he seized the opportunity when I failed to finish the game," Carlsen noted.
In the dramatic Round 6 match, Carlsen showed rare public frustration by slamming his fist on the table, displacing the pieces after the final move. He shook hands with Gukesh and walked away visibly upset. Despite being in a better position for most of the game, Carlsen failed to convert, allowing the Indian prodigy to secure a historic win.
The defeat seemed to weigh heavily on Carlsen’s mindset. He openly expressed doubts about continuing to play classical chess, citing a lack of enjoyment. "Losses hurt no matter the format, but if I lose in blitz or freestyle, I still enjoy the process. After a game like yesterday, I ask myself what's the point?" he said.
While he committed to playing the remaining three rounds of the tournament, he hinted at possibly skipping Norway Chess next year. "I'll have to make decisions about what I want to do next. I'm not saying I’ll never play classical again, but it’s possible my focus may shift elsewhere," Carlsen added.
Carlsen also acknowledged that he’s been investing more time in his second passion golf and enjoying downtime with family. "It’s nice to have something to take my mind off chess. Playing golf, having lunch with my wife it helps balance things out," he said.
In Round 7, Carlsen and Nakamura drew quickly in 21 moves, leading to an Armageddon tiebreak. Carlsen delivered a clinical victory in the blitz-style decider, providing a much-needed morale boost.
The loss to Gukesh, however, remains the standout moment of the tournament so far. Gukesh’s composed performance and tactical execution against the world’s top-ranked player has made headlines globally and solidified his status as one of the brightest young stars in international chess. As the final rounds approach, the spotlight remains firmly on Carlsen not just for his gameplay, but for the big decisions that may soon reshape the future of his illustrious chess career.
