Why is Gukesh's first-ever win over Carlsen in classical chess so crucial?

Magnus Carlsen’s infuriated table-thumping after his first-ever loss in classical chess to D. Gukesh, the youngest world champion, has been the talking point in chess circles since Monday. Such a brazen show of frustration may be commonplace in other sports — like racket abuse by a tennis player or a cricketer hurling his bat in anger — but rather rare in the silent world of chess.

The defeat has already stoked discussion about the five-time world champion’s uncertain future in classical chess, but from Gukesh’s perspective, it was nothing short of a watershed moment at Stavanger in Carlsen’s own country. There was chatter, including from Carlsen himself, about the quality of the world title game between the Indian and then holder Ding Liren, and if the Norwegian’s absence in the last FIDE cycle may have made life easier for Gukesh.

Unfair criticism, to say the least, as these were circumstances beyond Gukesh’s control. Ding’s last-minute blunder opened up the doors for the Indian when things seemed headed for a tie-breaker. Gukesh, on his part, had said in his first media conference then that while he had become the world champion, his next aim was to become the ‘best player in the world’ as he had not yet beaten Carlsen in classical chess.

A cherished goal, which Gukesh reached a few days after reaching his 19th birthday, fighting the psychological barrier of losing their first-round clash at the same venue and seizing his chance from a losing position.

Trying to put things into perspective, Gukesh's current trainer Grzegorz Gajewski told Indian media in Norway: ‘’I think this win over Magnus is going to give him (Gukesh) a lot of bump. First of all, he has never beaten Magnus. Second, as a world champion, he keeps facing these comments that: ‘Ok, you are the world champion because Magnus didn’t play' etc, etc. You know, you try not to hear these comments. But then you lose to him and then you lose to him, and that’s not pleasant. Now’s he’s beaten him. So I hope this is going to give him some credit and a lot of confidence.’’

The Pole, now in Gukesh's inner coterie, seemed spot-on. While Gukesh certainly gave Indian sport its biggest high of 2024 when he won the world title in Singapore, there was almost a grudging acceptance of his status among some of the world chess elite. Russian Chess Federation president Andrei Filatov, for example, publicly accused Ding Liren of deliberately losing the final round and handing the crown over to the Indian.

Grzegorz Gajewski, D. Gukesh's trainerI think this win over Magnus is going to give him (Gukesh) a lot of bump. First of all, he had never beaten Magnus. Secondly, as a world champion, he keeps facing these comments that: Ok, you are the world champion because Magnus didn’t play etc, etc.

After being utterly graceless in defeat, Carlsen composed himself enough to acknowledge Gukesh’s fighting abilities, but the question remains: is such behaviour an extension of his sense of entitlement thanks to his superhuman achievements?

The aura surrounding the 34-year-old temperamental genius is not without reason — the FIDE no.1 player since 2011 despite skipping the last World Championship cycle and being extremely selective about classical events. He also holds the longest unbeaten record in this format over 125 matches between 2018 and 2020.

Admitting to being ‘bored’ with the classical format, Carlsen — an iconoclast who took FIDE head-on by violating the dress code at the World Rapid & Blitz chess tournament and trying to promote his own Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour — has not endeared himself to too many. From belittling the legendary Viswanathan Anand, currently FIDE vice-president, to his over-the-top reaction after being humbled by Gukesh, it reflects poorly on his attitude.

Gukesh and his peers from India have carved a niche for themselves in the space of three to four years, shaking up the chess world order. Is the anger also an outcome of that, one wonders…