Beating your chess idol is a special feeling, and Armenian Grandmaster Haik Martirosyan experienced exactly that at the Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot 2026 in Budapest!
Martirosyan defeated Magnus in their first game of the third round. He handed the World No. 1 his first loss of the tournament. Playing with the white pieces, Martirosyan outplayed Carlsen in a 41-move encounter.
The game was particularly challenging for Magnus n on the clock. By the 21st move, he had just six minutes remaining, while Martirosyan had almost 20 minutes. Under time pressure, Magnus made a series of mistakes, particularly with his queen that allowed Martirosyan to convert his advantage into a victory.
This win is a memorable moment for Martirosyan, who is rated significantly lower than Magnus. After all, he defeated one of the greatest chess players of all time!
Watch Martirosyan's reaction after defeating his chess idol!
