Riyadh, July 29 – Magnus Carlsen isn’t just the world’s best chess player — he’s also not afraid to show some fire when the stakes are high.
In a high-octane semifinal clash at the 2025 Esports World Cup, Carlsen edged out American rival Hikaru Nakamura in a six-game thriller plus Armageddon, but not before tensions flared — both on and off the board.
The Norwegian star had already dispatched India’s Nihal Sarin in the quarterfinals and looked poised for another dominant outing. But Nakamura, always dangerous, clawed his way back into the match, forcing the drama all the way to a deciding Armageddon.
Crowd Cheers Irk the Champ
The turning point came in Game 3, when Nakamura snared Carlsen’s queen in a rare tactical ambush — handing Magnus his first loss of the tournament. The Riyadh crowd erupted, loudly cheering for Nakamura — and that didn’t sit well with the five-time World Champion.
“It pissed me off when they cheered when Hikaru was winning!” Carlsen said after the match, clearly still fuming.
In Game 4, Carlsen responded in kind — with both his moves and his attitude. After playing the brilliant 34…a4!, he turned toward the crowd and put his finger to his lips, motioning for silence — a rare and fiery gesture from the usually composed champion.
Armageddon Decides a Classic
After a draw in Game 5 and a stunning comeback by Nakamura in Game 6 to level things at 3–3, the semifinal went to Armageddon. As per the rules, Nakamura — who prefers playing with Black — bid only 6 minutes and 12 seconds, compared to Carlsen’s full 10 minutes. He needed just a draw to go through.
But Carlsen, with the white pieces and determination fueled by the crowd’s cheers, found his groove at just the right time, outmaneuvering Nakamura and securing victory — and a spot in the final.
One Step From Glory
With this gritty win, Carlsen advances to the final of the Esports World Cup Chess event, aiming to cement yet another crown in his already stacked legacy.
The stage is set — and the crowd better brace themselves.