‘There was a meme with a cat on the table…': D Gukesh left in splits, drops verdict on Magnus Carlsen's table slam
D Gukesh scripted history at the recently concluded Norway Chess 2025, where he claimed his maiden classical win vs Magnus Carlsen. The match was an epic thriller as Carlsen was left extremely angry with the defeat and slammed the table in frustration. Carlsen's reaction went viral on social media, and has inspired memes since then.
Recently, Gukesh opened up on the moment, where he maintained his calm composure as Carlsen lost control in an emotional moment.
Speaking to Chessbase India, he recalled the moment and its memes, and said, 'The memes are actually funny. There was a meme with a cat on the table and the cat jumps.'
'I was laughing for like 10 minutes,' he added.
Speaking after the defeat, Carlsen also seemed shellshocked. He said, ''I generally feel good in this tournament, I just don't think it's fun to play anymore, and that's the problem. I'm sitting there in the middle of the game, thinking that I have the same position as I had so many times. It's just moving slowly.'
'I don't find it exciting, and I know I can play really well. It is satisfying to play well, but then I collapsed towards the end, and showed great weaknesses; Gukesh fights really well,' he added.
Carlsen ended up winning the tournament for a record-seventh time and he also succesfully defended his title. He finished on top with 16 points, followed by second-placed Fabiano Caruana (15.5 points). Meanwhile Gukesh came third with 14.5 points and Hikaru Nakamura was fourth with 14 points. India no. 1 Arjun Erigaisi finished in fifth position with 13 points and Chinese GM Wei Yi (9.5) finished bottom of the standings.
Speaking after the final round, Carlsen was also asked to pick his successor and he had a surprising response to that. 'There is no one. There is no one at the moment. That's the honest answer. There could be, but at the moment, it's not likely,' he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
Move over Labubus. Skullpandas are here! Kunal Bahl hints at next big trend
Reuters Move over Labubus. Skullpandas are here! "Move over Labubus. Skullpandas are here!" Former Snapdeal CEO Kunal Bahl declared in a cheeky post on X (formerly Twitter), hinting at what could be the next big shift in the world of collectible toys. Bahl's comment referred to the rising popularity of Skullpandas — moody, stylized vinyl figurines created by Chinese toymaker Pop Mart. While Labubu, the mischievous, sharp-toothed creature from the same brand, has long held cult status among collectors — and even graced the handbags of celebrities like Rihanna and Cher — Skullpandas appear poised to steal the spotlight. — 1kunalbahl (@1kunalbahl) Beijing-based Pop Mart has cultivated a global fan base through its blind-box model and unique characters that blend cuteness with dark whimsy. The emergence of Skullpanda as a breakout hit marks another milestone in China's expanding influence in global lifestyle and pop culture exports. The company behind both characters, Pop Mart International Group Ltd., has become a darling of international investors. According to a Bloomberg report, Pop Mart's stock has soared 178% this year, giving it a market capitalization of $43 billion — more than double the combined value of legacy toymakers Sanrio (owner of Hello Kitty) and Mattel (maker of Barbie). The company's financial performance has been equally eye-catching. Revenues doubled last year to 13 billion yuan ($1.8 billion), with a gross profit margin of 67% and an operating profit of 4 billion yuan, Bloomberg noted. Labubu — the company's breakout character — has become a global phenomenon, with fans lining up outside stores from Sydney to Los Angeles, and celebrities like Kim Kardashian and BLACKPINK's Lisa embracing the toy. A human-sized Labubu even fetched $150,000 at an auction in Beijing. Pop Mart's growth story stands out amid rising geopolitical trade tensions. In the first quarter of 2025, its U.S. revenue jumped 900% year-on-year, while European sales surged 600% — far outpacing domestic growth in China. More than 70% of its Western sales now come from local consumers rather than Chinese expats or tourists. The company is betting big on global expansion, planning to open another 100 stores outside China this year, including themed outlets like its K-pop store in Seoul and an experiential space at the Louvre in Paris. Analysts project that overseas sales will surpass domestic revenue by 2025, with total revenue expected to hit $6 billion by Pop Mart's dependence on Labubu poses potential risks. Its other characters haven't replicated the same level of success, and rising concerns around blind-box marketing practices — including calls for tighter oversight from Chinese state media — may dampen demand. Counterfeit versions, dubbed 'Lafufus,' are also flooding online legacy IP giants such as Disney and Sanrio, Pop Mart's characters lack expansive storylines or multigenerational resonance, raising questions about long-term brand for now, Labubu — and possibly Skullpanda — are not just toys. They're among China's most successful pop culture exports, redefining what global fandom can look like in the age of TikTok, unboxing videos, and emotional 'dopamine shopping.'
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
What is Skullpanda? Meet mysterious Pop Mart character that's stealing spotlight from Labubu
While Pop Mart's more popular figures like Labubu first grabbed the spotlight, it's Skullpanda's quiet charm and deeper meaning that are now drawing collectors in. With its mysterious design and thoughtful themes, many are wondering, what exactly is Skullpanda? According to media reports, Skullpanda was created by Chinese designer Xiong Miao, who has a background in film, architecture, and gaming concept art. In 2014, she founded her own creative studio, Beizhai, and later established North Studio, which became the home of Skullpanda. The character was introduced in 2018, with the goal of expressing the concept of 'non-absoluteness', embracing uncertainty without fixed labels. With its skull-shaped helmet, soft braids, and dreamy appearance, Skullpanda reflects ideas of balance, mystery, and transformation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo — brianajpeg (@brianajpeg) Why collectors are obsessed Each Skullpanda series explores a new mood or concept, making every release feel like a fresh piece of art. From traditional Chinese elements to themes like music, dreams, and everyday life, there's a version of Skullpanda to match every collector's taste. Live Events — POPMARTGlobal (@POPMARTGlobal) The blind-box format has added even more excitement. Fans never know exactly which figure they'll get, turning each unboxing into a small adventure, and making rare finds feel even more rewarding. — POPMARTGlobal (@POPMARTGlobal) A figure with meaning As per reports, unlike many toys created just for fun or display, Skullpanda often stirs emotions. It represents more than a cute collectible, it tells stories about identity, creativity, and sometimes even loneliness or hope. Online, Skullpanda fans have built communities where they trade figures, share personal interpretations of the character, and even create original art inspired by it. — darjelinn (@darjelinn) As new series continue to launch, Skullpanda proves that even in a crowded collectibles market, there's still space for thoughtful design and quiet beauty. Inputs from agencies
NDTV
3 hours ago
- NDTV
Video: Fist-Pumping Humanoid Robots Play Football Badly in Beijing
They looked like tipsy 7-year-olds stumbling about the soccer pitch. But the game that unfolded at an industrial zone in Beijing was a breakthrough for humanoid robots and the artificial intelligence that powered them through a 5-3 match on Saturday. Clad in black and purple jerseys with individual player numbers, diminutive humanoids faced off for two 10-minute halves, their movements controlled not by gesticulating coaches on the sidelines but by built-in algorithms. The spectacle was less about lightning-speed action - two players fell on top of each other - and more about demonstrating balance, agility and AI-powered decision-making. The bots pumped their fists in the air after each goal - not difficult since the goalies were pretty bad. Witness an absolute screamer scored by a humanoid robot at the 2025 RoBoLeague World Robot Football League in Beijing! #robot #football #beijing — Beijing Evening News (@BeijingEvening) June 28, 2025 The games were not just a novelty but a signal of how far machine autonomy has progressed - and a showcase for Chinese institutions in particular. The matches featured multiple teams from the leading Tsinghua University as well as institutions like the Beijing Information Science and Technology University. One Tsinghua team called Vulcan won the championship following intense play, the China News Network reported. China is pouring money and talent into the field in a bid to steal a march on the rest of the world. The nation's $47 billion robotics market already accounts for 40% of the global total, and is slated to grow at a 23% annual rate to be worth $108 billion by 2028, according to a report by Morgan Stanley earlier this month. "China is not only the largest market but also is arguably the world's innovation hub, propelling cost efficiencies and next-gen robotics development," the Morgan Stanley analysts said. China, never one to shy away from a spectacle-meets-innovation demonstration, has lined up a series of humanoid-robot events that are both technological milestones and provocative cultural events. There was a humanoid half-marathon in Beijing in April, and a bot kickboxing tournament in Hangzhou in May. And while these exhibited some striking advances in AI and robotics, they weren't quite so impressive as spectator sports. Robotic limbs flailed in the air and some robots keeled over at the kickboxing tournament, while only six of the 21 humanoid marathon runners completed the race. Some swerved and fell, and one unfortunate bot's head rolled off near the start. Despite their wobbliness, the robot soccer players in Beijing demonstrated visual recognition and positioning abilities, aided by cameras and sensors. They could, for instance, detect the ball from as far away as 60 feet (18.3 meters) with 90% accuracy. The robots were also able to identify the goal, the pitch, field lines and opponents, and make playing decisions based on these inputs - technological improvements that indicate how far the machines have come. "Such demonstrations with human-form robots are currently focused on inspiring people's imaginations," said Samir Menon, founder and chief executive officer of Palo Alto-headquartered robotics startup Dexterity, Inc. "There'll be thousands of different types of robots, and hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of types of applications." The soccer robots used AI techniques like deep reinforcement learning - a sophisticated system based on trial and error in many simulated situations - to make real-time decisions like passing, dribbling and shooting, or predicting when and where a teammate will move. Such events emphasize Beijing's goal to deploy increasing numbers in real-world applications, and prove testing grounds to evaluate the machines for stability, efficiency and safety aspects in human proximity. Saturday's humanoid football league was a preview for the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games that China is set to host on Aug. 15-17 in Beijing. The event will include 11 humanoid sports events, including gymnastics, track and field and soccer.
