Magnus Carlsen and Anna Muzychuk triumph at Norway Chess 2025
Magnus Carlsen has taken his seventh Norway Chess title after a thrilling final round, while the last-year runner-up Anna Muzychuk won the Norway Chess Women 2025. The 13th edition of this prestigious competition took place in Stavanger, Norway, from May 26 to June 6. Both tournaments were 6-player double-round robins with equal prize funds. Each round consisted of a classical game, with a win worth 3 points and a loss – 0. In the case of a draw, the players played an Armageddon game, where the winner scored 1½ points, and the loser got just 1 point, with a draw favouring Black. Norway Chess 2025 proved to be fiercely competitive, with no player finishing the event unbeaten. Heading into the final round, Magnus Carlsen held a half-point lead over Gukesh D and was paired against Arjun Erigaisi, while Gukesh faced Fabiano Caruana. Carlsen found himself in a lost position with Black in a Queen’s Gambit Declined, but the momentum shifted quickly. With only seconds remaining on his clock, he took a draw—seemingly enough to secure the title, as Caruana held a winning position against Gukesh. However, a dramatic twist followed: Caruana blundered, equalizing the game, but Gukesh erred just two moves later and capitulated soon. With these results, Magnus Carlsen clinched his seventh title, while Fabiano Caruana leapfrogged Gukesh D and finished second. The World Champion had to settle for third place. Norway Chess 2025 – Final Standings: 1 Magnus Carlsen NOR 16 2 Fabiano Caruana USA 15½ 3 Gukesh Dommaraju IND 14½ 4 Hikaru Nakamura USA 14 5 Arjun Erigaisi IND 13 6 Wei Yi CHN 9½ Anna Muzychuk, the only undefeated player in the women’s event, was in command throughout and came to the final round two points ahead of Humpy Koneru. She made draws in both classical and Armageddon against GM Vaishali Rameshbabu, and secured the title, as Koneru drew her classical game with Ju Wenjun as well. Meanwhile, Lei Tingjie won on demand with Black against Sara Khademalshariehin and overtook Koneru to take second place. Norway Chess Women 2025 – Final Standings: 1 Anna Muzychuk UKR 16½ 2 Lei Tingjie CHN 16 3 Humpy Koneru IND 15 4 Ju Wenjun CHN 13½ 5 Vaishali Rameshbabu IND 11 6 Sarasadat Khademalsharieh ESP 9 Photos: Norway Chess / Roza Czarnota and Michal Walusza Official website: https://norwaychess.no/en/