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Hikaru Nakamura defeated D. Gukesh to end his five-game winless streak at the Norway Chess tournament, tying both players for third place.
D Gukesh at Norway Chess (X)
In a crucial encounter at the Norway Chess tournament, Hikaru Nakamura revitalised his campaign with a decisive victory over World Champion D. Gukesh in the classical format, ending a five-game winless run and shaking up the leaderboard.
Nakamura, the world number two, delivered a precise and masterful performance, avenging his earlier loss to Gukesh in Round 3. This result marks a significant shift in momentum, particularly for the young Indian prodigy who had been on a high after consecutive classical victories against Magnus Carlsen and Arjun Erigaisi.
With this win, Nakamura joins Gukesh on 11.5 points, tying both players for third place as the tournament approaches its conclusion. The victory also provides a psychological boost for the American Grandmaster, who had faced criticism after a series of underwhelming performances earlier in the event.
For Gukesh, the loss is a slight setback in what has otherwise been a breakthrough tournament. The 19-year-old, who became the youngest-ever World Champion earlier this year, has displayed remarkable composure and maturity throughout the tournament, defeating some of the game’s most prominent figures. However, against a resurgent Nakamura, Gukesh stumbled in the middlegame, misjudging a crucial pawn structure that allowed his opponent to seize the advantage.
The tournament now enters its final rounds with the top spots still open for contention. Carlsen, Firouzja, and Caruana remain in the running, but with Gukesh and Nakamura now surging, the fight for the title is far from decided.
Norway Chess 2025 continues to deliver thrilling contests and high drama, with each round reshaping the narrative in this elite chess showdown.
(With inputs from IANS)
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket, having cov…Read More
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket, having cov… Read More
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