Chess is widely regarded as the gentleman’s sport, but there is no game that can be played without some degree of aggression.
Magnus Carlsen is the world number one chess player and the highest-ranked player in the history of the game. The Norwegian grandmaster is a five-time world champion. In Round 6 of Norway Chess 2025, D. Gukesh, the 19-year-old Indian grandmaster and reigning world champion, defeated Carlsen in a classical (standard time-control) game in a stunning result. It was Gukesh’s first-ever classical win over Carlsen, and it came after Carlsen had held a strong position for much of the game. He visibly slammed the table in frustration after the loss and left the playing area quickly, which was widely circulated in the media and on social posts.
Such a reaction is not well received by the chess audience, which is supposed to be a super gentleman’s game. So, how is all this Carlsen drama connected to this Tata Steel Chess India 2026?
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When the correspondent of News EiSamay tossed the question, “Magnus Carlsen almost always fist-bumps his opponent after a loss. As someone who has played him, does that gesture make him seem more human, or does it add to the psychological pressure because he appears unfazed by defeat?” This question turned into friendly banter as it turned the situation into a game of passing the pillow. R. Pragganandha replied, “Aravindh Gujrathi would answer it better.” When asked the same question, Arvindh Gujrathi replied, “Arjun Erigiasi would have a better answer to your question.” When the question ultimately reached Arjun, he replied, “If Gukesh were here, he would give a perfect reply to your question.”
GM Dibyendu Barua shares his view on aggression in chess
Dibyendu Barua, the first grandmaster from West Bengal, came up with the answer later on. While speaking to News EiSamay, he mentioned, “Aggression is relevant in every sport. Clarsen’s aggression was probably out of frustration from losing the match at a crucial tournament. The gesture might look a bit off from the scene, but it takes a lot of toil and pressure absorption to reach such a level.”
“Magnus Clarsen is a great player and a great human being; a certain portrayal of aggression does not tell everything about a person or the game.”
“Every player has their way of dealing with it. The physical sports like cricket and football allow players to show their aggression on the field, but in a game like chess, the players do not usually open up, which made that scene even more contrasting,” he added.
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This incident left the audience in an ambiguous situation to seek an answer, as Gukesh did not attend the Tata Steel Chess India Tournament. Aggression is an emotion in every game, which is very solitary, like from Virat Kohli to Sergio Ramos, from football to cricket, there are various ways of expressing emotions in every game. Chess, however, is a super gentleman's game where attitude plays a very decisive role.
