NEW DELHI: Indian chess star D Gukesh received a flood of birthday wishes from some of the biggest names in chess during the ongoing Norway Chess 2026 tournament, but it was Magnus Carlsen's playful message that grabbed the internet's attention. In a video shared by Norway Chess, Carlsen joked with the reigning world champion as he turned 20.
Carlsen's Lighthearted Message
"Very happy birthday to Gukesh. You're not a teenager anymore, time to grow up," Carlsen said, drawing smiles from fans worldwide.
Several top players invited to Norway Chess also wished Gukesh on his special day. Women's World Champion Ju Wenjun said, "Hi, Gukesh. I wish you happy birthday." Praggnanandhaa added, "So hi, Gukesh. Happy birthday to you. Have good health and long life." Veteran Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy praised the young champion: "Many happy returns of the day, Gukesh. So now you have just moved on from a teenager to celebrating your 20th birthday, and I wish you all the best in all your endeavors, and we all are proud of you."
Carlsen Defeats Gukesh in Norway Chess
Ahead of the birthday celebrations, Gukesh faced Carlsen in one of the biggest matches of Norway Chess 2026 in Oslo on Thursday. Playing with the black pieces, Carlsen defeated the Indian star in a hard-fought classical game after slowly gaining control in the middlegame. Gukesh held firm for a long time but eventually slipped under time pressure, allowing Carlsen to convert his advantage into victory.
Other Results and Standings
Elsewhere in the tournament, Wesley So beat Alireza Firouzja in Armageddon after their classical game ended in a draw, while R Praggnanandhaa defeated Vincent Keymer in the tiebreak after another balanced contest. Firouzja still leads the overall standings after four rounds, though Carlsen's win has boosted his position significantly.
In the women's section, Bibisara Assaubayeva continued to lead the standings after defeating Ju Wenjun in Armageddon.
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