World chess champion D Gukesh to take on No.1 Magnus Carlsen at Norway Chess

The new chess world champion, D Gukesh, will face his toughest task when he takes on world No.1 Magnus Carlsen in next year’s Norway Chess. One of the biggest tournaments in the chess calendar, Norway Chess will take place in Stavanger from May 26 to June 6, 2025. While there are over five months to go for the tournament, the excitement started to build up once it was announced on Monday that both Gukesh and Carlsen will feature in Norway Chess.

Gukesh won the World Chess Championship 2024 last week after beating China’s Ding Liren 7.5-6.5 in a best-of-14-game series in Singapore. The 18-year-old Gukesh is the youngest chess world champion of all time.

“I’m excited to face the strongest players in the world again in Norway and also the Armageddons will be fun,” Gukesh said in a media release.

Carlsen vs Gukesh in Norway Chess

In 2023, Gukesh came third in Stavanger. In 2025, he will have an opportunity to test his mettle against local player Carlsen, who is considered by many as the best chess player of all time.

“This matchup is truly unique, and it’s thrilling to see the World Champion face off against the world’s highest-rated player,” said Kjell Madland, founder and tournament director of Norway Chess.

“The whole world will be watching, and the Norway Chess team is proud to host such an incredible event here in Stavanger.”

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Carlsen is also a five-time world champion but he gave up his crown in 2022.

This allowed Ding to become the new world champion as he defeated Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi in the 2023 World Chess Championship.

The 34-year-old Carlsen also recently indicated that he is unlikely to fight for the world crown anytime soon.

“It’s not going to be me. I mean, let’s talk about Gukesh and the match and so on. I’m not part of this circus anymore,” Carlsen said on the Take Take Take YouTube channel.