The slam heard around the chess world

Gukesh also reportedly told Chess.com that he could relate to Carlsen’s reaction: “I’ve also banged a lot of tables in my career!”

Carlsen retains his title as the top-ranked player by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), which calculates ratings based on performances across sanctioned tournaments. Carlsen is also a five-time world chess champion, a title awarded for winning the game’s most presitigious tournament (The Candidates Tournament) and besting the current world champion (or with the current champion beating the winner of the Candidates).

Carlsen declined to defend the title in 2022, with China’s Ding Liren taking the top spot only to be defeated by Gukesh in 2024. Then only 18, Gukesh became the youngest world champion in history.

That has meant something of a natural rivarly between the two.

Carlsen has previously praised the Indian phenom, noting recently in an appearance on the podcast The Joe Rogan Experience that Gukesh “works his a– off all time time” but also is not as strong as some of the shorter time formats that have gained in popularity and prestige in recent years.

Along with the embrace of shorter time formats, chess has boomed online, with a boom in coverage and content creators who analyze games in real time and provide plenty of commentary.

And with Carlsen still by far the game’s top star, a blunder and loss — and reaction — like the one to Gukesh has sparked its own compilations of reactions.