D Gukesh Bounces Back with Birthday Win over Nakamura at Norway Chess

On his 19th birthday, reigning world champion D Gukesh made a spirited comeback at Norway Chess by defeating World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura of the United States, finally opening his account with three crucial points. The victory came as a much-needed morale boost after Gukesh endured back-to-back defeats against World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and followed Indian Arjun Erigaisi in the earlier rounds.

Playing with remarkable poise and renewed confidence, Gukesh took control of the third-round clash, forcing Nakamura, renowned globally for his prowess in Rapid and Blitz formats, into severe Zeitnot (time trouble). The encounter concluded in 42 moves, showcasing Gukesh’s tactical maturity and sharp awareness.

“I feel quite good (about the win). I think my time management was significantly better today than it was before. He (Nakamura) had some drawing chances, but I guess, overall, it was good,” said Gukesh after the match.

The six-player double round-robin tournament is grueling, and time management has already emerged as a defining factor. Gukesh, who found himself struggling against the clock in the first two games, turned the tables in this round by managing his time with deliberate efficiency.

Asked whether he would feel comfortable in potential Armageddon tie-breakers — a faster, high-stakes format — the teenager responded with tempered optimism:

“Yeah, I mean, at some point it will come for sure. But right now, I'm just happy with this (win).”

Reflecting on his earlier setbacks, Gukesh did not hesitate to call out his shortcomings:

“The last two games were kind of tough. But today I just tried to play it as a fresh tournament. Glad I played (like that),” he admitted.

Regarding his earlier time-trouble issues, he was blunt: “Clearly horrible” is how he described his past clock handling.

“Glad my time management and my game were pretty good (today),” he said, smiling — a glimmer of self-assurance now rekindled.

With this pivotal win, Gukesh not only regains his momentum but also reaffirms his ability to adapt, recalibrate, and persevere under immense pressure, qualities that underscore his status as a rising prodigy in global chess. This tenacious performance may well be a harbinger of more riveting games ahead, as the tournament unfolds with escalating intensity and fierce rivalry.