Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 27 SPORTS June 6, 2025 World Champion D Gukesh Stuns Former No. 1 Magnus Carlsen In Norway Chess 2025 W orld Champion Dommaraju Gukesh pulled off a stun- ning victory against former World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen in Round 6 of the ongoing Norway Chess 2025 tournament, turning the game around from a losing position on Sunday, June 1. This marked Gukesh’s first-ever classi- cal win over the Norwegian grandmaster. The 19-year-old also became the second Indian player to beat Carlsen in the history of the competition after Ramesh- babu Praggnanandhaa. Carlsen had an upper hand over Gukesh for most of the time in the match, but in the end, he couldn’t con- trol his nerves, and the teenager turned the tables around and went on to win the match. With this win, D Gukesh jumped to third spot in the Norway Chess 2025 points table with 8.5 points, and now he is just one point behind Carlsen and American Fabiano Caruana. Earlier on May 27, the marquee clash of Round One at Norway Chess 2025 lived up to expectations as Magnus Carlsen launched a classic king hunt to defeat reigningWorld Champion D Gukesh in a thrilling encounter. This was their first classical match since Gukesh won the world title, and it also marked Carlsen’s return to individual classical chess after nearly a year. Reacting to the upset victory, Gukesh’s coach, Grandmaster Vishnu Prasanna, praised the teenager’s resilience and fighting spirit. “We have to give a lot of credit to Gukesh for his stubbornness and for his resourcefulness because I think he was aware that he was dead lost for so long, yet he kept kicking, he kept kicking, and the time went lower, the more chances he had to actually do something with the position. I don’t think his intention was to win that, but yeah, I’m sure he is happy,” Vishnu Prasanna said. The win has added further excitement to the tournament, with the race for the top spot tightening as it enters its final rounds. Speaking after the match as quoted by Chess.com, Gukesh said about his win, “I mean, [it was] not the way I wanted it to be, but okay, I will take it.” He also took Carlsen’s outburst in a sporting manner, understanding the frustration he must have faced, saying, “I have also banged a lot of tables in my career.” In the video now posted on the official X handle of Norway Chess, just after the win was sealed by Gukesh, Carlsen let out his emotions by banging the table, sending some pieces falling on the board and down on the floor too. While he did not forget to shake Gukesh’s hand and give him a pat on his back as the Indian star tried collecting himself emotionally after a stunning win, Carlsen’s frustration with his performance was visible. Gukesh was still in shock after his win and the way he pulled it off from behind, saying, “99 out of 100 times I would lose,” but it was just a lucky day.” Among the many people who lauded his victory was India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “An exceptional achievement by Gukesh! Congratulations to him for tri- umphing over the very best. His first-ever win against Magnus Carlsen in Round 6 of Norway Chess 2025 showcases his brilliance and dedication. Wishing him continued success in the journey ahead,” PMModi wrote on X. - ANI Cricket-Pakistan To Play In Colombo When India Hosts Women’s World Cup P akistan will play all their women’s 50-overWorld Cup matches in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo when India hosts this year’s tournament, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Monday, June 2. Politically-estranged India and Pakistan, who have not played a bilateral series since 2013, will play their matches in neutral venues when either country hosts an ICC event, the sport’s global governing body announced in December. “The venues for the knockouts are dependent on Pakistan qualifying as two alternative venues have been identified for one semi-final and the final,” the ICC said. “Colombo will be the venue for the first semi-final and the final only if Pakistan qualify for those stages.” Bengaluru, where the tournament will start with India playing in the opening match, will host the final on November 2 if Pakistan are knocked out earlier in the tournament, the ICC added. Bengaluru will also stage the second semi-final on October 30, a day after the first semi-final in Colombo or Guwahati. Visakhapatnam and Indore are the two other host cities for the eight-team tournament. India played all their matches in Dubai when Paki- stan hosted the men’s Champions Trophy this year, including the final which they won. Both the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Paki- stan Super League were suspended last month amid clashes between the two countries following an at- tack targeting tourists that killed 26 people in Kashmir in April. Matches resumed after a ceasefire was an- nounced. The neutral venue arrangement between the coun- tries will also be in place for the men’s T20World Cup in 2026, which India will co-host with Sri Lanka, and the women’s T20World Cup in 2028 in Pakistan. - Reuters By Chiranjit Ojha PHOTO:Screenshotfromvideo @icc-cricket.com PHOTO:Michal_Walusza.NorwayChess Members of the Indian cricket team during the national anthem in 2024. Round 6 Gukesh_Dommaraju, left, beat Magnus Carlsen June 1 at Norway Chess 2025.