Norway Chess: Gukesh wins thriller against Caruana, Erigaisi loses to Carlsen

D Gukesh wins Armageddon tie-break against Caruana, while Carlsen defeats Erigaisi in Norway Chess 'Open' category.

Reigning world champion D Gukesh emerged the winner in a thrilling Armageddon tie-break against American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana but Arjun Erigaisi succumbed to Magnus Carlsen's intuitive skills on a mixed day for the Indians in the 'Open' category of Norway Chess in Stavanger.

World No. 3 Caruana enjoyed a pawn advantage for most part of the Round 4 game against his Indian opponent, who turned 19 on Thursday (May 29, 2025), but the American could not convert it into a significant advantage in over four hours of engrossing chess thanks to Gukesh's superb defensive skills.

The Armageddon tie-break was applied to break the stalemate. Both Gukesh and Erigaisi are now tied fourth in the six-payer field with 4.5 points apiece, while Carlsen is the sole leader with 8 points, followed by Caruana on 7 and American GM Hikaru Nakamura on 5.5.

With Gukesh, playing with white pieces and having a huge three-minute advantage in Armageddon – white gets 10 minutes and black seven – after coming out of a tricky situation during the Classical slugfest less than 15 minutes earlier, the Indian overpowered Caruana on the clock to take 1.5 points from the game.

A win in the Classical format earns the players in this double-round robin format tournament three points, while a draw fetches them one point each. However, the players have to immediately play the Armageddon tie-break to break the deadlock.

Gukesh, following his magnificent Classical win in the third round against world No.2 Nakamura and a thrilling come-from behind victory against Caruana, is on 4.5 points in a six-player field led by five-time world champion Carlsen, who is in sloe lead with eight points.

Gukesh later said that he doesn't really enjoy playing on his birthday but would gladly take this crucial morale-boosting win.