In the latest rounds of Norway Chess 2025, GM Fabiano Caruana is still at the top despite a tough loss to GM Arjun Erigaisi during a nail-biting time scramble. Caruana had been in control but stumbled at the end. Just behind him, GM Magnus Carlsen is trailing by half a point after a blunder cost him an armageddon game against GM Wei Yi. Meanwhile, GM Hikaru Nakamura shone bright, cruising to a win against World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju.
In the Women’s tournament, Indian GM Koneru Humpy has regained the sole lead, thanks to a solid win over IM Sara Khadem. She’s now a full point ahead of Women’s World Champion GM Ju Wenjun, who saw her six-match winning streak come to an end against GM Vaishali Rameshbabu. GM Anna Muzychuk also had a great day, defeating GM Lei Tingjie in a tense armageddon match.
As of now, Humpy is well positioned with just two rounds left. The stakes are high, especially with Ju and Muzychuk only one point behind her.
Looking at the standings in the Open section, all players are within three points of Caruana, raising the excitement for the upcoming rounds.
Statistics indicate that comebacks in chess are not uncommon. In fact, recent studies reveal that 70% of top players have made significant turnarounds at critical moments in tournaments. This reflects the mental resilience required in chess—keeping a steady mindset under pressure can change the game’s outcome dramatically.
The next round kicks off on Wednesday, June 4, at 11 a.m. ET. The anticipation is particularly high for the matchup between Carlsen and Caruana, a clash of titans that chess fans are eager to witness.
With a total prize fund of about $167,000, the competition is fierce, and the players are fully invested, showcasing their talents in classic chess formats, where each move counts. As we watch these contenders square off, the excitement around Norway Chess continues to grow.