Magnus Carlsen’s table slam upon losing to Gukesh D at the Norway Chess 2025 went viral, drawing reactions and parodies from fans. While many saw it as a rare and raw display of frustration, which was understandable, India’s top-ranked Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa offered a more realistic perspective on the incident.
“Instinctive Reaction” R Praggnanandhaa Explains
He explained the intensity of the game, which can sometimes lead to instinctive reactions, which, in this case, was a table slam. He said, “Yes, it was an instinctive reaction. I think it does happen to players. I’ve done it sometimes, but rarely. I mean, it’s (me hitting the table) not as powerful as Magnus because he’s a strong guy, but Gukesh has done it and many others. It’s just an instinctive reaction because you’re so focused that it just comes out.”
“Is It A Good Thing? Maybe Not”
However, R Praggnanandhaa was also clear about his take on such behaviour. He further added, “But, I mean, is it a good thing? Maybe not. I don’t think so because I guess it’s not good. (Having said that), I think so many people got to know that something like this happened, and it became such a big thing on the internet.”
Despite the controversy, he reaffirmed his respect for Magnus Carlsen and said, “I think Magnus is still the best player in the world. And I don’t think there is any question about it. Whenever he plays a tournament, he is the favourite. He has been proving that he is still the best by winning every tournament. For me, personally, I take a lot of inspiration from him, the way he plays.”
The Brighter Side Of Magnus Carlsen’s Slam
He also noted the positive side of the incident as it attracted the world’s attention to an otherwise lesser-known sport. He mentioned, “And, I think it’s good for the game in a way because a lot of people got to know that there was such a tournament going on and that such a dramatic game happened. So, I think there are some good things and bad things, but I think overall, chess is growing. That’s what matters.”
R Praggnanandhaa Reaches A New High As He Won UzChess Masters 2025
R Praggnanandhaa is now India’s number 1 chess player and has reached a career-best ranking of World Number 4 with an Elo rating of 2778.3. He clinched the UzChess Masters 2025 by defeating Uzbekistan’s very own Nodeivek Abdusattorov in the final round.
Also Read: Another Indian Comes After Magnus Carlsen, And This Time It’s The 9-Year-Old, Aarit Kapil
