In a high-stakes clash at the Norway Chess tournament, Hikaru Nakamura reignited his campaign with a commanding victory over World Champion D. Gukesh in the classical format, breaking a five-game winless streak and throwing the leaderboard wide open.
 
Nakamura, the world number two, delivered a precise and clinical performance, avenging his earlier defeat to Gukesh in Round 3. The result marks a dramatic shift in momentum, especially for the young Indian prodigy who was riding high after back-to-back classical wins against Magnus Carlsen and Arjun Erigaisi.

With this win, Nakamura joins Gukesh at 11.5 points, putting both players in a tie for third place as the tournament approaches its climax. The victory also serves as a psychological boost for the American Grandmaster, who had come under scrutiny after a string of underwhelming results earlier in the event.

For Gukesh, the loss is a minor setback in what has otherwise been a breakout tournament. The 19-year-old, who became the youngest-ever World Champion earlier this year, has shown remarkable poise and maturity throughout the tournament, taking down some of the game's biggest names. However, against a reinvigorated Nakamura, Gukesh faltered in the middlegame, misjudging a critical pawn structure that allowed his opponent to seize the initiative.