Is Gukesh Dommaraju Ready for a Fun Challenge Against Magnus Carlsen?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Gukesh Dommaraju is the youngest world chess champion.
- He faces Magnus Carlsen in a highly anticipated match.
- Gukesh has broken multiple records in his chess career.
- The draw for the tournaments will take place today.
- Norway Chess 2025 features a strong lineup of international players.
Stavanger (Norway), May 25 (NationPress) - The youngest ever world chess champion, Gukesh Dommaraju, landed in Stavanger on Saturday, gearing up for the highly anticipated showdown at Norway Chess 2025, set to kick off on Monday at the Sparebank 1 Sor-Norge headquarters.
In an exciting moment for chess, the 18-year-old will face the reigning World No.1, Magnus Carlsen, in a classical format for the first time since his championship victory against Ding Liren in Singapore last year.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the match, Gukesh stated, “I feel fantastic to be here in Stavanger. I have cherished memories of Norway. Competing against Magnus in his home country is a thrilling challenge. For the audience, it’s the world champion versus the top player globally; it sounds exhilarating, and I’m delighted to provide this experience for myself and chess fans. I believe it will be a remarkable event.”
Previously, Gukesh participated in Norway Chess 2023, finishing third and earning vital FIDE Circuit points that propelled him to qualify for the 2024 Candidates Tournament. This achievement made him the third youngest in history to qualify, following the greats Bobby Fischer and Magnus Carlsen.
By August 2023, Gukesh broke another milestone, becoming the youngest player to reach a rating of 2750. In September 2023, he surpassed Viswanathan Anand as India’s highest-ranked player, a status held for 37 years.
In 2024, he started strong by clinching first place at the Tata Steel Masters in January and dominated the Candidates Tournament, securing his position in the World Chess Championship. At the Olympiad, he led Team India to gold and earned an individual gold medal on board one with an outstanding performance.
Reflecting on managing expectations after his recent successes, Gukesh remarked, “This is a new level for me. I view it as a challenge to prove I can handle it. Even with high expectations, I believe I can meet them through hard work and dedication.”
Among the challenges of classical games, Gukesh noted that managing his thoughts is crucial. “In a classical match, you might play for five hours, and it’s hard to maintain focus. Random thoughts can interrupt, but it’s essential to stay engaged and return to those thoughts later. This is why making notes is vital. Weak moments can’t be afforded,” he elaborated.
The draw for Norway Chess 2025 and Norway Chess Women 2025 will occur later today.
India’s Arjun Erigaisi will also compete, alongside a formidable lineup featuring Hikaru Nakamura (USA), Fabiano Caruana (USA), Wei Yi (China), and in the Norway Chess Women 2025, Ju Wenjun (China), Lei Tingjie (China), Koneru Humpy (India), Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine), Vaishali R. (India), and Sarasadat Khademalsharieh (Spain) vying for top honors.