Magnus Carlsen Wins Sixth Stavanger Title Amid Gukesh Drama and Armageddon Chaos
STAVANGER, NORWAY – June 13, 2025 | IDNN Global Mind Sports Desk
Magnus Carlsen added a sixth Norway Chess crown to his decorated career, clinching the 2025 Stavanger title by a slim half-point margin over Fabiano Caruana. But the real headline was his fiery meltdown in a crucial clash against Indian world champion Gukesh Dommaraju.
Table-Banging & Tension with Gukesh
During their second showdown, Carlsen was visibly rattled after letting a winning position slip away. In a moment that went viral, he slammed his fist on the table, stunning spectators — and even PSG used Gukesh’s stunned reaction in a social media meme to celebrate their UCL victory.
Carlsen later admitted, “I regret the moves I made more than the gesture. It was pure frustration.”
♟️ Victory by Grit, Not Grace
Despite the drama, Carlsen emerged on top, winning the classical format with a +2 score while criticizing the Armageddon rounds as “atrocious.” He acknowledged that results had gone his way, but insisted he still played “the best chess overall.”
Caruana nearly snatched the title in the penultimate round, while Hikaru Nakamura maintained his 2026 FIDE Candidates rating lead ahead of Arjun Erigaisi.
Unique Format, Brutal Finish
Stavanger uses a rare hybrid format:
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40 moves in 2 hours
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Followed by a sudden drop to 10 seconds per move
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All draws go to Armageddon tiebreakers, where Black wins in a draw
This compressed tension led to wild swings and mental breakdowns — none more visible than Carlsen’s clash with Gukesh.
Women’s Event Underrated But Fierce
In the parallel women’s event (equal prize money, less attention), Anna Muzychuk outplayed a strong field, including defending champion Ju Wenjun, to clinch the title. Her win over Ju in round nine, after a subtle endgame squeeze, proved decisive.
Anna and her sister Mariya, former world champion, have emerged as the strongest sister duo since the Polgars, often serving as each other’s seconds.
🎯 Final Standings Snapshot:
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🥇 Magnus Carlsen – Champion (6th title)
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🥈 Fabiano Caruana – Runner-up
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🥉 Gukesh, Nakamura – Contenders
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👑 Anna Muzychuk – Women’s Champion
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👀 Ju Wenjun – Slipped from lead to 4th