“Silence speaks louder than words, in Chess”
It’s unbelievable! How can a 19 year old boy defeat the chess king Magnus Carlsen? But it’s very true. Gukesh Dommaraju is a participant in the Norway Chess Tournament held in 2025, and also makes history by winning against chess king Magnus Carlsen.
Dommaraju Gukesh- at the age of 17, he has one of the brilliant and sharp minds in modern chess. He was born in Chennai, India. A city that gave the world champion named Vishwanathan Anand and Gukesh has been named as the youngest chess champion and one of the youngest ever earned title as “Grandmaster of Chess”.
His calm under pressure, endless preparation, and daring play style, which makes him unique. He earned the reputation of being a future master of chess in world rankings.
Magnus Carlsen is one of the non-ordinary opponent and regarded as the master of chess. His dominating nature, confidence, and unmatched strategies have left even in front of the seasoned grandmaster.
But legends also have their off days. And this time, he was against someone who defeated him hard- without seeing off the board.
D Gukesh took part in a novel blindfold event in Round 6 of the 2025 Norway Chess Tournament, in which players perceive every move in their thoughts without seeing the pieces. It is a structure that measures true mastery.
And guess out what?
Gukesh topped Carlsen.
Even Magnus revealed after the completion of the match that: “Was he blindfolded?! “That is incredible.” The sentence was not sarcastic but it was surprising and admirable. Chess lovers and reporters were left confused when the video went viral on multiple platforms.
Only the sharpest minds can win a game of chess without looking at the board. But to achieve it against Magnus Carlsen, usually considered the greatest master of chess in the world, is beyond remarkable. Gukesh’s approach was daring but measured. He played with the ease of an expert and the courage of a young person, with each move built of gut and each decision based on hours of unseen effort. This wasn’t simply a victory. It was a statement.
A softly whispered to the world: “I belong here. “I can beat the best.”
Gukesh is no stranger to breaking records. He is known as the youngest chess champion of India and he is on his way to becoming the world champion. But is this a win? This is what legends are born of. It proved that age is no limit to chess skills, and that mind can beat muscle and memory over mechanics. He didn’t need to look at the board because he already knew the outcome.
1. 2024 FIDE World Chess Championship
Result: Ding Liren, the previous champion, was defeated by 7.5 – 6.5.
Importance: At the age of 18, he became the youngest World Chess Champion in history, and only the second Indian to do so after Viswanathan Anand.
2. 2024 FIDE Candidates Tournament (Toronto)
Result: Result: 9/14 points, taking first position.
Importance: Became the youngest player to ever win the Candidates Tournament, earning the chance to compete for the World Championship.
3. 2024 Superbet Chess Classic Romania
Result: The victory was secured with a good performance.
Importance: Proved his outstanding skills in major tournaments, by confirming his place among the world’s best athletes.
4. 2025 Norway Chess Tournament
Notable highlights:
Importance: Proved his supremacy by beating the world’s top players in a single tournament.
Gukesh used a casual approach at the beginning, avoiding bold traps. As the game progressed, he showcased outstanding positional knowledge, preparing for an ending trap that Carlsen did not see coming.
Playing without sight, the youngest chess champion of India shows the feeling of a global champion.
Social media broke out. The headline got picked up by several news outlets. Chess fans, grandmasters, and even AI-powered engines studied the game. Most had one conclusion:
Gukesh is more than just a growing star; he is already among a gem.
With this courageous victory, he has joined the ranks of the world’s best—not as a challenger, but as an actual candidate for the title of world chess champion. This is not only about defeating a legendary player. It’s a strong indication that a new age in chess has begun. Gukesh’s victory is more than just a match win; it signals to the chess world that India’s youth is rising, fearless, and talented. The boundary between the legacy of the past and the new one is growing lesser, and the flame is nearly ready to pass.
Gukesh Dommaraju played blindfold and getting victory over Magnus Carlsen was more than an incident of luck but it was just the beginning of chess legacy. Gukesh is turning his promise into power, having progressed from a promising young player to being compared to the master of chess in world. As chess develops with AI and quick formats, brains like Gukesh’s are changing what it means to be a grandmaster.
Keep an eye on this space- the world’s youngest chess champion could be the next one, or you could have the same experience.
Meghal is a professional blog writer with experience in creating content across diverse topics. I deliver well-researched, clear and engaging articles that inform and add value to readers.
