Carlsen's tournament start was challenging, as he lost two standard games in the first three rounds to Alireza Firouzja and Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa. He also drew Vincent Keymer in a standard game, then won the armageddon. Before facing Gukesh, Carlsen was at the bottom of the scoreboard with 1,5 points, two points behind the world champion.

Despite playing with black pieces against Gukesh in round four, Carlsen chose a rare fifth move variation. He explained that to surprise his opponent, he first needed to surprise himself. Indeed, by the sixth move, both players began to think deeply, rather than following learned lines. "I found this opening variation completely unfamiliar", Carlsen stated in the "confession booth" during the game.

Carlsen (right) before the game against Gukesh in round four of the Norway Chess super tournament in Oslo on 28/5. Photo: Norway Chess

Carlsen's risky play initially put him at a slight disadvantage in the opening, as he faced doubled pawns and difficulty castling. However, the Norwegian player then prevented his opponent from castling before maneuvering his pieces to attack the center. The turning point came on move 30, when Gukesh made an ill-advised bishop move, leading to a losing position. Carlsen capitalized on this, creating pressure that forced his opponent to exchange his queen for a rook and knight. After 42 moves, the 20-year-old world champion resigned.

This victory elevated Carlsen to fourth place with 4,5 points, 4 points behind Firouzja, who leads the scoreboard. With seven rounds remaining and a maximum of 21 points still available, the 35-year-old player retains a chance to defend his title. In round five, Carlsen will play with white pieces against Wesley So.

Norway Chess is an invitational standard chess tournament considered one of the most exciting of the year, bringing together six top players. This year's event takes place from 25/5 to 6/6 in Oslo, Norway, featuring Carlsen, Keymer, Firouzja, Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh, and So, all ranked among the top 20 globally. Players compete in a double round-robin format, earning points.

A win in a standard game earns 3 points, while a loss yields zero points. If a standard game ends in a draw, players compete in a rapid armageddon tie-break. The winner of the armageddon game receives 1,5 points, and the loser gets one point. Last year, Carlsen won the tournament for the seventh time with 16 points.

Carlsen has been the world number one chess player consistently since July 2011. He won the World Standard Chess Championship five times: in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2021. The Norwegian player relinquished his world champion title in 2023, citing a diminished interest in standard chess.

One year later, Gukesh became the youngest standard chess world champion in history at just 18 years old. The title holder is commonly referred to as the World Champion, and he is the 18th champion in the 139-year history of the World Chess Championship. Gukesh himself has acknowledged that his next goal is to dethrone Carlsen from his number one ranking.

Scoreboard after round 4

Xuan Binh