Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD
Get unlimited access to 10,000+ magazines, newspapers and Premium stories for just
Try GOLD - Free
In beating Gukesh, Carlsen shows why he is still the king
Hindustan Times Haryana
|May 28, 2025
The disappointment on the face of Gukesh D was apparent as he rushed out of the hall of a commercial bank in downtown Stavanger that plays host to the Norway Chess tournament.
STAVANGER, NORWAY: The disappointment on the face of Gukesh D was apparent as he rushed out of the hall of a commercial bank in downtown Stavanger that plays host to the Norway Chess tournament.
Moments later Magnus Carlsen burst through the same door. Stopping by for a quick chat with Norwegian channel TV2, he afforded a smile and spoke in Norwegian of feeling "a bit random" about the eventual outcome.
Which was that Carlsen had beaten Gukesh in the opening round of the Norway Chess on Monday after a stunning endgame.
The enigma that he is, Carlsen put out a quote from the popular TV series, The Wire, soon after the clash. It also effectively summed up their first meeting in classical chess since the 18-year-old Indian became the world champion.
"You come at the king, you best not miss".
Both came for a fight. In the end, though, Carlsen showed why he's the world No. 1, a five-time world champion and, by Gukesh's own admission after the world championship, the world's best player. The king, if you may.
Doesn't matter that he hadn't played chess' most demanding format in a year. That he expected to gradually work up his classical rhythm only after a few rounds here. That he spent a part of his matchday morning playing golf.
This story is from the May 28, 2025 edition of Hindustan Times Haryana.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Hindustan Times Haryana
Hindustan Times Haryana
Rahane, the leader, does things his own way at KKR
Towards the end of another uneasy night, when the press conference room of Eden Gardens smelled faintly of sweat and impatience, Ajinkya Rahane smiled in the way unassuming leaders do when they know the joke is partly on them.
3 mins
May 23, 2026
Hindustan Times Haryana
Husband surrenders in Bhopal dowry death case
On a day of swift developments in the death of former 32-year-old model-actor, Twisha Sharma, Bhopal police on Friday took custody of her husband, Samarth Singh, who was on the run for over a week, and the Madhya Pradesh high court ordered a second autopsy by an AIIMS Delhi team as requested by her family.
2 mins
May 23, 2026
Hindustan Times Haryana
Can Swiatek find her feet on red clay again?
Not too long ago, the women’s singles draw at the French Open was essentially a battle to see who would finish second. It was almost a certainty that Iga Swiatek would clinch the title.
3 mins
May 23, 2026
Hindustan Times Haryana
Polling for 24 RS seats on Jun 18
Biennial elections to fill 24 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states will be held on June 18, the Election Commission announced on Friday, inaugurating a poll cycle where the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will look to inch closer towards the two-thirds majority mark in the Upper House.
2 mins
May 23, 2026
Hindustan Times Haryana
SC drops all adverse remarks against 3 NCERT book experts
The Supreme Court on Friday dropped all adverse observations made against the three academic experts — Michel Danino, Suparna Diwakar and Alok Prasanna Kumar—involved in preparing the NCERT Class 8 textbook containing objectionable remarks against the judiciary.
2 mins
May 23, 2026
Hindustan Times Haryana
4 named in first charge sheet in Nashik BPO case
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Nashik city police on Friday filed the first charge sheet in connection with the alleged instances of sexual harassment, exploitation and religious conversion at a Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)-linked business process outsourcing (BPO) unit in Nashik.
2 mins
May 23, 2026
Hindustan Times Haryana
Non-tech firms tap AI boom with GCCs, data centres
Non-IT companies including real estate, staffing and cab-hailing platforms are setting up GCC practices or investing in data centres to capitalize on growing tech needs as automation tools rewrite how companies run their business.
3 mins
May 23, 2026
Hindustan Times Haryana
‘Have no choice’: Extreme heat takes toll on outdoor workers
The impact of hot days in the Capital is faced most acutely by those whose livelihoods depend on working under the sun. Some of them shared their difficulties with HT’s Aaditya Khatwani.
3 mins
May 23, 2026
Hindustan Times Haryana
Come forward for talks: Manipur CM amid stirs
Manipur chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Friday said even if people have resentment against the government, they should not resort to blockades or shutdowns, as these only hit hard the daily wage earners and labourers.
1 min
May 23, 2026
Hindustan Times Haryana
TRUMP WON'T ATTEND SON'S WEDDING DUE TO GOVT BUSINESS
US President Donald Trump on Friday said he won't be attending the wedding of his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., to Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson because he has to stay in Washington for government business.
1 min
May 23, 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size