World champion D Gukesh provided an unintentionally funny moment during the Norway Chess tournament on Wednesday, quickly capturing fans' attention online. In the midst of his tense Round 2 clash against Wesley So, the young Indian grandmaster appeared to need a quick water break, but things did not go as planned.
Sitting deep in thought during the game, Gukesh reached for a bottle placed beside the board and attempted to open it. After struggling with the cap for a few seconds and failing to get it open, the 19-year-old quietly gave up and placed the bottle back on the table. This led to a hilarious viral clip that spread rapidly across social media.
A Frustrating Day for the Champion
The light-hearted moment came during an otherwise frustrating day for the reigning world champion. Gukesh had looked in control for large parts of his classical game against So, pressing hard across a marathon 116-move battle. The Indian prodigy seemed close to converting his advantage into a full win before So managed to escape with a draw.
The game then moved into Armageddon, where So completely turned the tables. The American outplayed Gukesh in the tie-breaker to secure 1.5 points, while Gukesh had to settle for one point after a mentally draining encounter. The defeat visibly upset the Indian teenager, who struggled to hide his frustration during post-match broadcast duties. To make matters tougher, So later questioned whether Gukesh's current rating accurately reflected his strength.
Other Matches and Highlights
Elsewhere, Alireza Firouzja continued his brilliant run by defeating R Praggnanandhaa despite battling an ankle injury and using crutches around the venue. Defending champion Magnus Carlsen also survived a scare against Germany's Vincent Keymer before finally clinching his first victory of the tournament through Armageddon.
In another match, Divya Deshmukh pipped India No. 1 Koneru Humpy in Armageddon, but there was no joy for Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa.
Stay updated with the upcoming IPL match between RCB vs GT and the latest IPL news. Follow the IPL schedule and track the race for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap.
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