At the ongoing Norway Chess tournament, reigning world champion Gukesh Dommaraju has delivered back-to-back jaw-dropping performances, showcasing an extraordinary fighting spirit and tactical brilliance. In two successive rounds, he turned seemingly lost games into unforgettable victories against two of the world’s best—first against world number one Magnus Carlsen on Sunday, followed by a dramatic comeback win over Arjun Erigaisi on Tuesday. Remarkably, these were Gukesh’s first classical chess victories over both players, including Arjun, who had previously defeated him six times.
In the game against Arjun, the odds seemed stacked against Gukesh for most of the match. Arjun not only held a stronger position on the board but also had a significant time advantage. Yet, Gukesh staged a phenomenal turnaround, ultimately forcing Arjun to resign after 92 hard-fought moves. His efforts catapulted him from the bottom of the six-player leaderboard to second place—a significant leap that reflects the sheer impact of his two consecutive wins.
Gukesh candidly acknowledged his struggles in the opening stages of the game against Arjun. “I was just losing at some point, was slowly getting outplayed. From the opening, nothing went my way,” he admitted. “But once I got to this position, I had to keep making moves that don’t lose on the spot. And then in the time scramble, things happen.”
Indeed, “things happen” was the recurring theme across both matches. Gukesh’s second, Grzegorz Gajewski, speaking to Indian journalists covering the Norway Chess event in Stavanger, made it clear that those moments weren’t merely accidental. Gukesh was the one actively creating those opportunities, even when the odds seemed dire.
Monday’s game dynamics reveal just how challenging it was. Arjun appeared in complete control up until the 24th move, according to the evaluation bar. At that point, Gukesh had just 15 minutes on his clock, while Arjun still had 37. Notably, in earlier matches where Gukesh lost, poor time management had been a recurring issue. At Norway Chess, each player begins with 120 minutes, with no time increment until after move 40—when a mere 10-second increment per move kicks in. This format puts a premium on time discipline and adds immense pressure in the late stages.
By move 27, Gukesh had gained a pawn, signaling the start of a shift in momentum. Three moves later, both he and Arjun had approximately seven minutes left each. This time window became the arena for Gukesh’s resurgence. Through a series of precise maneuvers, he forced Arjun’s king to traverse the board while gradually improving his own position. By move 48, Gukesh had taken another pawn, tightening the noose. With only a minute remaining on his clock, he continued to play with composed aggression, navigating each move with the aid of the 10-second increment.
The evaluation bar fluctuated again after move 60, hinting at potential counterplay, but Gukesh remained unfazed and converted his advantage into a stunning victory. This game was not just about time and tactics—it was about resilience.
Critics have occasionally claimed that Gukesh underperforms in faster time controls due to his heavily calculative playing style. However, his performances in the last two rounds have directly challenged that narrative. He used his deep calculation prowess not just to keep himself afloat but to put pressure on both Carlsen and Arjun, who are among the most elite competitors in the world.
Gukesh’s win over Carlsen was particularly significant, not just because it was his first against the former world champion in classical chess, but because of how close he was to giving up. The teenager had come very near to resigning in that game, but something told him to push on.
“I remember being that age myself and sometimes your energy, your fighting qualities and your optimism are bigger than the quality of your moves. For a long time, Gukesh was just blindly pushing,” said Carlsen, reflecting on the game. Gukesh’s youthful defiance had paid off—he had turned stubborn perseverance into triumph.
That same perseverance reappeared in his game against Arjun. Gajewski observed that Gukesh’s never-say-die attitude had only strengthened after the Carlsen win. “When you’re in such trouble (as in the game against Carlsen) and you keep fighting and you get rewarded for it, you have even more faith that it makes sense to keep fighting. So the very next day (versus Arjun), when you’re again in trouble, you definitely know what to do, you just keep fighting,” he explained.
Gajewski further dissected Gukesh’s strength under pressure: “It’s not like other players give up very quickly. But usually, when Gukesh is in trouble, at some point the game is reaching a conversion stage (converting the advantage into victory). Conversion stage of the game requires calculation and precision. This is exactly where Gukesh stands in the way, because he demands the very highest level of accuracy and precision from you. And if you’re not up to it, you might mess up the position, even if you’re number one in the world,” he said. “Simply put, Gukesh has extraordinary calculation abilities, which combined with his fighting spirit, help him defend so many positions.”
His performances have not gone unnoticed in the global chess community. Legendary player Susan Polgar shared her thoughts on X, noting, “He fights and fights and fights no matter how bad the positions are. This was also the strength of Carlsen for years. Mark of champions.”
These two victories—earned from the jaws of defeat—are more than just scorecard entries. They are a testament to Gukesh’s growing maturity, strategic brilliance, and undying grit. They show a young world champion coming into his own, not just by beating the best but by doing so with the kind of character and determination that defines legends.
As the Norway Chess tournament progresses, all eyes will remain on Gukesh, not just to see whether he wins, but to see how far this unshakable willpower and razor-sharp mind can carry him. If the last two games are any indication, it’s going to be a fascinating ride.