Magnus Carlsen vs D. Gukesh – My Thoughts
- ~Carerra
- Jun 27
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 12
Earlier this month (June 2nd, 2025),
Chess made history—
D. Gukesh (19) beat Magnus Carlsen (34) in classical Chess,
Symbolizing a changing tide of up-and-comers against the veterans.
And as enthralling as the end-game was,
So were the reactions:
➙ Magnus slammed the table in rage.
➙ Gukesh, covering his face and mouth, stealthing away in disbelief.
Both in pure emotion.
And the internet, as usual, was in a rush of its thoughts:
“MaGnUs WaS oVeRReaCTinG!!”
“GuKEsH wAs ScAReD!!”
But I saw it differently,
Considering I'm constantly pursuing success, excellence, and mastery.
These were two giants at the top of their game.
↳ Thor vs Goliath
↳ Achilles vs Hercules
Articulated more below.
1. MAGNUS’ REACTION
In his defeat,
Magnus erupted,
Slammed the table,
Muttered “Oh my God!”,
And trudged off into the shadows.
But to note:
He wasn’t angry at Gukesh—
He was mad at himself.
See,
There’s a reason he’s been Chess kingpin for a decade:
↳ He holds himself to a serious level of personal accountability.
↳ He expects the most from himself, both in practice and in the arena.
Which adds to why he was mad (at himself)—
He blundered.
He dominated the game until time pressure caught up with him in a knight move, which Gukesh capitalized on and went on to win the game.
And for someone of his caliber,
He’s better than that.
Even he knows it.
Another thing,
Despite the heat in the moment,
Magnus exuded sportsmanship in his brief spans of consciousness.
↳ He apologized to Gukesh (twice),
↳ Shook his hand,
↳ And patted his back on his way out.
Even in loss,
Respect is earned,
And Magnus did just that - He gave it.
His enragement is justified, and rationally speaking, observers can note his overreaction.
This is someone who has dedicated his life, sweat, and tears to the game, creating art from the game of chess. To him, success is the bare minimum.
(Akin to Cristiano Ronaldo losing a game. Same goes for the Kobes, MJs, etc.)
If You Haven't Yet...
I'm currently building my newsletter—The Weekly Chronicle—where I share weekly motivational insights and high-impact ideas in under a minute.
If you wish to support my journey, consider subscribing to my newsletter here.
Your support means the world.
Thank you in advance.
We keep reading.
2. GUKESH'S REACTION
On the other hand,
A proud (yet stunned) 19-year-old Gukesh's face speaks volumes.
"I can't believe it!"
"I finally beat Magnus!"
"I beat THE Magnus Carlsen!"
As silent as he was, his reaction was loud.
Post-match,
He conceded that it was a lucky day for him ("99 out of 100 times" reference), not expecting to beat Carlsen in the end.
"99 out of 100 times I would lose. It was just a lucky day."
Despite the slip-up,
Gukesh is a force to be reckoned with.
Him being 19 signifies a new era of upcoming Chess titans, ready to topple the legacies.
Both titans, at the top of their game, share the same reaction:
"I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!"
A Hidden Mentorship
But there's something interesting.
In some not-so-many-seen clips,
When Magnus beats other challengers (including Gukesh),
He mentors them.
➙ He teaches them after their loss.
➙ He analyzes their improvement points.
➙ He motivates them to strategize better for the next game.
I'm willing to bet that Magnus is not just a serial winner,
But a serial mentor too.
And in the long run,
Whether it's Gukesh beating Magnus or not,
Magnus is survived by mentees.
Closing
Those are my thoughts.
Chess is incredibly mental;
Players can burn 132-320 calories per hour, with grandmasters going up to 6,000 calories due to the intense stress and focus.
So to many, it’s just a board game;
A sophisticated checkers.
But to others, it is a life force.
A pathway to meaning.
An Ikigai.
{Fun Fact: My ELO rating is between 1400 and 1800 - Haven't focused much on it recently.}
Curious to hear your thoughts.
What do you think?
Happy Tuesday,
.
.
.
~T.K.K
Did You Learn Anything from This Article?
Yes
No
Maybe
Comments