Our Bureau
Norway
D Gukesh, the current world champion of the world, has finally got his campaigns going in the Norway Chess. Gukesh who was struggling in the tournament so far after consecutive defeats by the hands of Magnus Carlsen and his own countryman Arjun Erigaisi. But Gukesh has now bounced back this Thursday with a huge victory defeating Hikaru Nakamura, the current second ranked player in the World.
Gukesh was ecstatic after his win against one of the best players in the World in Hikaru. The World No. 2, Nakamura who is one of the best Rapid and Blitz players to ever play the game was defeated by Gukesh under time pressure to win the game in 42 moves.
The win was a big statement for the World Champion, who lost his last two games due to being under pressure with time. But this time when he was playing the best Blitz player in the world, Gukesh made Nakamura stare at the clock in round three of the six-player double round-robin tournament.
Gukesh talked to the media after the match and said, “I feel quite good (about the win). I think my time management was much better today than before. He (Nakamura) had some drawing chances, but I guess, overall, it was good.”
He was asked whether he would be comfortable in the Armageddon tie-break as the tournament progresses further to which he replied, “Yeah, I mean at some point it will come for sure. But right now, I’m just happy with this (win).”
Gukesh also admitted that the last two games that he lost were tough losses and he was glad he could get it all together in this match. He also admitted that his time management in the last two games was horrible, and he will be looking to improve it as the tournament progresses.
