Gukesh bounces back, gets the better of World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura in Round 3 of Norway Chess 2025

Khel Today Bureau

Stavanger: World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju took down World No. 2, Hikaru Nakamura in a seemingly equal endgame, cementing his title credentials with a bold performance. This win could not come in a better moment for the Indian prodigy following two painful losses in the first two rounds.

Fabiano Caruana has rebounded impressively after his loss in the first round, with another win. This time against Indian star Arjun Erigaisi. With this win, he took over the world number 3 spot from Arjun Erigaisi in the live rating list.

The only draw came between World No. 1, Magnus Carlsen and Wei Yi. Magnus Carlsen seemed to get some pressure out of the opening but was unable to get anything substantial against Wei Yi’s superb defence. In the Armageddon game, Wei Yi found a clever move. In the following complicated position, Magnus Carlsen made a mistake and Wei Yi won a beautiful game.

Anna Muzychuk retains the lead at Norway Chess Women

The Norway Chess Women’s tournament again saw action with a decisive win for the Indian star Humpy Koneru against Sarasadat Khademalsharieh. Humpy Koneru managed to obtain a better position out of the opening. With excellent play, she kept adding pressure until she gained advantage. This proved enough to secure the win.

Meanwhile, both remaining games, Tingjie Lei against Anna Muzychuk, and Vaishali Rameshbabu against Ju Wenjun, were decided in Armageddon, reflecting the tightly contested nature of the women’s field. Anna Muzychuk and Wenjun Ju managed to win their Armageddon games, getting the extra points.

About Norway Chess

Norway Chess is one of the world’s premier chess tournaments, bringing together the top male and female players in a distinctive 6-player double round-robin format. The introduction of Norway Chess Women in 2024, with equal prize funds for men and women, underscores the event’s commitment to gender equality and innovation in the sport. Norway Chess 2025 will take place from 26 May to 6 June. Norway Summit, an annual multi-disciplinary conference on new technology, innovation, and the economy, takes place alongside Norway Chess each year and is scheduled for 4 June in 2025.