Man, I get asked this by my friends all the time—like, does Magnus Carlsen still scare everyone at the board in 2025?

Here’s how I see it after watching all these Norway Chess games: Carlsen is definitely not invincible anymore. Gukesh, Caruana, Nakamura—these guys are actually beating him and Magnus is making mistakes he never used to. But to be real, people are still nervous facing Carlsen; it’s like playing your older sibling who always wins, even if you’re getting better yourself.

But now there’s this vibe in the chess world that if you play sharp and stay cool, you might actually take him down. Gukesh beating him after being behind just proves that the new generation isn't here to just watch—they want the crown. Carlsen, though, will always be a legend, and anyone who says they're not worried playing him is lying. I kinda love the drama; it’s like the passing of the torch phase, but Carlsen's not done fighting yet. I bet he still has a few tricks up his sleeve, which keeps things super exciting for fans like me!