D Gukesh Celebrates Birthday with Victory Over Hikaru Nakamura at Norway Chess
D Gukesh marked his 19th birthday with a significant victory over Hikaru Nakamura in the Norway Chess Tournament, bouncing back from two previous defeats. Meanwhile, Arjun Erigaisi faced a setback against Fabiano Caruana, and Koneru Humpy emerged as a joint leader in the women's competition. This round showcased intense competition and strategic play, highlighting the resilience of the players involved. Read on for a detailed overview of the matches and standings.
May 30, 2025, 04:08 IST
Gukesh's Comeback Victory
On his 19th birthday, world champion D Gukesh revitalized his tournament performance by defeating world No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura from the USA in the third round of the Norway Chess Tournament.
After facing two consecutive losses against world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and fellow Indian Arjun Erigaisi, Gukesh managed to put Nakamura under significant time pressure, securing a win in 42 moves and earning three crucial points.
Playing with the white pieces, Gukesh, who had struggled with time management in his previous matches, turned the tables on Nakamura, who found himself racing against the clock.
"I feel quite good about the win. My time management was much improved today compared to before. Nakamura had some chances to draw, but overall, it was a solid performance," Gukesh remarked, moving up to fifth place on the leaderboard, ahead of China's Wei Yi.
Nakamura quickly recognized that he had made an early mistake in the Giuoco Piano opening. Attempting to regain control, he shifted to a kingside attack, hoping to exploit Gukesh's earlier vulnerabilities.
Despite coming close to a draw, Nakamura admitted he had relaxed too soon. When he offered a draw on move 30, Gukesh responded with a move that led Nakamura into a downward spiral.
This victory marked a significant turnaround for Gukesh, who acknowledged the previous two days had been challenging for him.
"The last two games were tough, but I approached today as if it were a new tournament. I'm glad I played that way," Gukesh said.
When asked if his win was a result of better time management, he admitted that his previous games had featured "horrible" time management.
"I'm pleased with my time management and overall game today," he added.
Gukesh, whose strength lies in Classical chess, was also questioned about his comfort level with potential Armageddon tie-breaks as the tournament progresses.
"At some point, it will come for sure, but for now, I'm just happy with this win," he stated.
Arjun Erigaisi Faces Setback
After a strong start, Arjun Erigaisi encountered a setback, losing to Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana, while defending champion Carlsen fell in the Armageddon tie-break against China's Wei Yi.
Caruana took the lead in the tournament with three additional points, bringing his total to six, while Carlsen followed with five points. Erigaisi and Nakamura are tied for third with 4.5 points each.
Caruana opened the game with a rare 7.h4 in the French Defence. Erigaisi, playing with black pieces, expressed optimism about his chances, believing that "white is a bit underdeveloped" in this opening.
However, Caruana noted that Erigaisi's optimism may have contributed to his loss. "I was preparing for a draw when we reached an equal endgame, but he thought he was slightly better, and that optimism may have led him astray," Caruana explained.
Caruana's remarkable comeback has seen him lead the tournament after two consecutive classical victories, despite an initial loss to Nakamura. He also reclaimed his world No. 3 ranking from Erigaisi following this win.
Koneru Humpy Joins Leaders
In the women's section, two-time World Rapid champion Koneru Humpy, playing with white pieces, emerged as a joint leader alongside Ukraine's Anna Muzychuk, both accumulating six points after Humpy's victory over Iranian-Spanish Woman Grandmaster Sara Khadem in the third round.
China's Ju Wenjun triumphed over R Vaishali in the Armageddon tie-break.
Results (Round 3):
Open: Fabiano Caruana (USA – 6) defeated Arjun Erigaisi (Ind – 4.5); D Gukesh (Ind – 3) defeated Hikaru Nakamura (USA – 4.5); Magnus Carlsen (Nor – 5) lost to Wei Yi (Chn – 2.5 in Armageddon tie-break).
Women: Koneru Humpy (Ind – 6) defeated Sara Khadem (Esp -2); Ju Wenjun (Chn – 4) defeated R Vaishali (Ind -2) in Armageddon tie-break.