Gukesh wins to get his campaign back on track

It was past midnight on Thursday in India when D Gukesh found his first win in Stavanger.

- HT Correspondent

BENGALURU: In the Norwegian city that lies on the North Sea coast, there were still a few hours to go for his 19th birthday.

Since becoming world champion last year, the Indian teen hasn't delivered the kind of dominant results typically expected from someone fresh off such a milestone. He arrived for the Norway Chess tournament with the proverbial sword of Damocles hanging over his head — can he defeat five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen? They were paired in Round 1 and Gukesh went on to lose the encounter after Carlsen brought his superlative endgame skills to bear. A sharp quip from the world No. 1 followed —'You come for the king, you best not miss'. Gukesh spiralled to a second straight defeat against fellow Indian Arjun Erigaisi in the following round and appeared visibly gutted, turning away from the cameras soon after resigning.