Carlsen admits defeat against Praggnanandhaa 'pretty much a repeat of the game against Gukesh'

Magnus Carlsen's title defence at Norway Chess, his home event, is off to a disastrous start with the world No 1 yet to win a single Classical game in three rounds – losing two and drawing one. Carlsen began his campaign with a stunning loss at the hands of Alireza Firouzja but had a relatively better outing against Vincent Keymer in the second round, defeating the German Grandmaster in their Armageddon face-off after their Classical game ended in a draw.

Carlsen would then suffer his second defeat in three games after losing to Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa, who capitalised on a late error to defeat the five-time world champion in 46 moves. It was the second time 'Pragg' had beaten Carlsen in the Classical format, having defeating the Norwegian GM at the same event back in 2024.

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Carlsen admits to panicking shortly before losing to Pragg

Speaking to the tournament broadcasters after the conclusion of Round 3, Carlsen felt his loss against Praggnanandhaa was essentially a repeat of his stunning sixth-round loss against reigning world champion D Gukesh at last year's Norway Chess.

"I felt like it was pretty much a repeat of the game against Gukesh last year. I missed one thing, and then I kind of panicked and lost within a few moves," Carlsen said after the conclusion of the third round in Oslo, where the tournament is taking place this year after being hosted in Stavanger for more than a decade.

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Carlsen had faced Gukesh in a Classical game for the first time at last year's Norway Chess since the latter had been crowned the youngest world champion of all time. While the home favourite won their first meeting in Round 1 in 55 moves, Gukesh bounced back in style in Round 6, beating Carlsen in 62 moves, leading to the infamous 'table slam' moment. It was the first time Gukesh had beaten Carlsen in any format.

As for the ongoing tournament, Carlsen finds himself at the bottom of the standings with just 1.5 points after three rounds while Praggnanandhaa finds himself at the second spot with 4.5, trailing current leader Firouzja (7.5) by three points.

Gukesh, meanwhile, is fourth in the standings with 3.5 points, having drawn all three Classical games that he's played so far. As for the Armageddon tie-breakers, the reigning world champion managed to beat Keymer in the opening round but has lost to Wesley So and Firouzja in the subsequent rounds.

Carlsen and Gukesh will be locking horns in a highly-anticipated fourth-round showdown on Thursday, with the latter hoping to beat the defending champion for the second time in as many meetings.