Gukesh Dommaraju beats Magnus Carlsen: The slam heard around the chess world

Magnus Carlsen, the top-ranked chess player in the world, lost for the first time in the classical format to Gukesh Dommaraju, the current world champion who at 19 years old is seen as among the game's brightest young stars.

It was the fist slam heard 'round the chess world.

Two of the titans of chess — one, the up-and-coming champion versus arguably the greatest player of all time — squared off over the weekend in a game that has drawn attention not just for its result but for the post-game reaction.

Magnus Carlsen, the top-ranked chess player in the world, lost for the first time in the classical (think long, complex games) format to Gukesh Dommaraju, the current world champion who at 19 years old is seen as among the game's brightest young stars.

The game, which came as part of the Norway Chess 2025 tournament, swung after Carlsen lost a knight, leading to a frantic endgame in which each player had only seconds left on their clocks.

With Gukesh in a clearly winning position, Carlsen expressed his frustration in a manner relatable to most anyone who has ever played chess: with a fist to the table.