On his 19th birthday, Indian chess prodigy D Gukesh gifted himself more than just a slice of cake, he delivered back-to-back victories at the prestigious Norway Chess tournament in Stavanger. Starting the day with a stunning classical win against World No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura, Gukesh wrapped it up with a thrilling Armageddon triumph over World No. 3 Fabiano Caruana. 

What makes this feat even more remarkable is the shaky start. He had suffered early losses to World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and fellow Indian Arjun Erigaisi. With grit and grace, Gukesh bounced back, rising to joint fourth position after four rounds, earning admiration from fans and legends alike.

Gukesh’s Tactical Brilliance Shines! 

The birthday boy showed immense composure against Fabiano Caruana. Gukesh, learning from past mistakes like his rushed king advancement against Erigaisi, maintained a strategic stance throughout. When the game transitioned to Armageddon, the tie-break format, Gukesh, playing white, displayed absolute dominance. 

With 10 minutes on his clock (against Caruana’s 7), he launched a ferocious offensive, pushing Caruana into deep defense. After 51 intense moves, with checkmate looming, Caruana conceded, sealing Gukesh's second win of the day and giving him a birthday memory of a lifetime.

Rising from the Ashes: Gukesh’s Journey in Norway!

Gukesh’s journey in Norway Chess has been nothing short of a cinematic comeback. With zero points after two rounds, many questioned if he could hold his own among elite giants. But he silenced critics with his white-piece victory over Nakamura, one of the most feared rapid and blitz players in the world. 

Commentator and Grandmaster Sahaj Grover highlighted how Gukesh remained calm even when down a pawn and dangerously close to losing. Gukesh’s resilience, sharp endgame skills, and mental strength now have him sharing the fourth spot with Erigaisi at 4.5 points, with six rounds still to go.

A Teen Titan Among Titans!

The tournament leader Magnus Carlsen continues his streak at the top with eight points, undefeated under classical time control. Caruana follows closely with seven, and Nakamura holds third with 5.5. But all eyes are on Gukesh, the youngest in the field and now the newly crowned World Chess Champion. 

Post-match, seated beside Indian legend Viswanathan Anand, Gukesh humbly reflected on his journey: “The first two days, my play was okay, but my time management was off. Once I fixed that, everything started falling into place.” His growth as a player and maturity in handling pressure have impressed the chess world. 

On and off the board, Gukesh is proving that age is just a number, and 19 might just be his golden year.