Former World Champion Magnus Carlsen is known for his calm demeanor, killer instinct, and unmatched talent at the chessboard.
But even the world’s greatest players are human. While he often maintains composure under pressure, there have been moments when Carlsen’s frustration boiled over.
Here are 5 times Magnus Carlsen let his anger show, and they were caught on camera.
1. Slamming the Table After Losing to Gukesh (Norway Chess 2025)
In one of the most talked-about incidents of 2025, Carlsen lost a classical game to 19-year-old Indian Grandmaster and World Champion Dommaraju Gukesh.
It wasn’t just the loss that made headlines; it was Carlsen’s reaction.
After a critical mistake while previously having a better position, Carlsen slammed his fist on the table, sending pieces flying.
The moment was caught on camera and quickly spread online. Fans were divided; some called it raw passion, and others criticized it as unsportsmanlike.
Later, Carlsen apologized to Gukesh for the outburst. It was a rare show of visible emotion from the usually composed champion.
Apologies aside, the incident earned a massive buzz from inside and outside the chess world. It became somewhat of a viral meme.
Internet users started adding different captions to the video, which were unrelated to chess but super funny nonetheless.
French club and recent UEFA Champions League Winners, Paris Saint-Germain, also hopped on the trend.
2. Mouse Slip Meltdown During the Chessable Masters (2023)
Online chess can be brutal; just ask Carlsen.
During a decisive Armageddon game against Hikaru Nakamura in the 2023 Chessable Masters, he attempted to make a simple queen move.
But his queen landed on the wrong square in a tragic mouse slip, instantly losing the game.
Carlsen screamed, slammed his hand on the table, and leaned back in disbelief.
The blunder ended his final tournament as the reigning World Champion.
He had already made the decision to abdicate the world title at that time, so it would have been nice to go out with a bang.
Fans sympathized with Carlsen, but that horror show emphasized that online chess demands precision, not just in thought but also in clicking.
This wasn’t just a loss but a technical error at the worst possible time.
3. Said “FUCK YOU” to FIDE
Magnus Carlsen breathed fire at the governing body of chess over the “Jeansgate” incident regarding his breach of the dress code.
On that day, he didn’t realise he was wearing one of his nicest pairs of jeans. He got fined and was allowed 3 of the 8 rounds of the day to change, but insisted on changing the next day.
The arbiters were obliged by the rules to prompt players to adjust their clothing breaches, and his co-violator of the day, Ian Nepomniachtchi, conformed to this rule.
But Magnus Carlsen could not follow suit as a matter of principle, so the arbiters disqualified him, and all hell broke loose.
At the moment, he spoke to Take Take Take, criticizing FIDE with the F-bomb, especially top officials like Deputy President and former World Champion Viswanathan Anand and CEO Emil Stuvsky.
He subtly called them children while referring to the likes of Arkady Dvorkovich as grown-ups who could have managed the situation better.
4. Walking Out of a Press Conference (World Championship 2016)
During his tense World Championship match against Sergey Karjakin in 2016, Carlsen lost Game 8 and his cool.
Instead of showing up for the post-game press conference as required, he stormed off and skipped it entirely.
FIDE, the game’s governing body, fined him for the breach.
Carlsen later admitted he needed time to cool off, but the incident showed just how emotionally draining world championship matches can be.
Even the calmest minds can snap under pressure.
5. Almost Punching Alireza Through His Screen (Chess.com Classic 2024)
In the 2024 Chess.com Classic, Carlsen was one move away from victory against Alireza Firouzja. Then came the unthinkable: a blunder.
Instantly, the position collapsed. Carlsen’s reaction? He made a punching gesture at his screen—unclear whether he made contact or not.
The video of the moment went viral. Viewers saw raw disappointment, not just at the mistake, but at how close he was to winning the title.
It was a rare moment of fury from a player who often controls every emotion during games.
Final Thoughts
There are more angry moments of Magnus Carlsen, and these moments show a different side of him; not the ice-cold technician or unbeatable strategist, but a fiercely competitive, emotional human being.
They also highlight just how intense modern chess has become, both over the board and online.
Whether slamming a table or silently resigning, Carlsen’s emotional flashes remind us that even kings can tilt.
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